Birthdays are milestones, and this year I wanted mine to be unforgettable. Instead of a far-flung adventure, I chose a journey closer to home—a trip through Korea’s cultural heartlands and coastal beauty. From the historic streets of Jeonju to the romantic charm of Namwon and the cosmopolitan vibe of Busan, this was a celebration of life, history, and indulgence.
To celebrate my 70th birthday I did a local trip to Jeongju, Nawon and Busan.
I had last been to Jeongju and Namwon decades ago, and Busan about a year ago. Busan has always been one of my favorite Korean cities as it reminds me of my home -the SF Bay Area both in terms of its settings, sea, and mountains and its Bohemian spirit.
We took the KT Train and had a relaxing time of it. In Jeongju, we stayed at the Shilla Stay hotel near the famous Hanok village district, and in Busan we stayed at the Paradise Casino resort at Haeundae Beach..
Jeonju: Korea’s Cultural Heart
Our first night in Jeonju was rainy, but we still managed to stroll through the historic Hanok Village, soaking in the atmosphere despite the weather.
Jeonju is the capital of Jeollabuk-do Province and an important cultural hub with about 600,000 residents. It’s best known for Hanok Village, a cluster of traditional Korean houses—many now converted into restaurants and shops, though some remain private homes.
The village can feel a bit touristy, but the architecture is stunning, and photo opportunities abound. You can rent traditional Korean hanbok and wander the streets, though we opted not to.
Highlights
Gyeonggijeon Shrine
A secondary palace of the Joseon Dynasty, once home to royal portraits and a site for Confucian rituals. Restored after the war, it’s often used as a filming location for historical dramas.
Hilltop shrines overlooking Hanok Village with spectacular views.
Jeondong Catholic Church
The oldest Catholic church in Jeonju and one of Korea’s first—perfect for photos.
Pungnammun Gate & Nambu Market
The old city gate and Jeonju’s largest traditional market, where we enjoyed a hearty lunch.
Jaman Art Mural Village
A colorful neighborhood with whimsical street art by local artists.
Shilla Stay
Our stay at Shilla Stay was a treat. The breakfast buffet featured Jeonju specialties, including bibimbap, which we enjoyed every morning. The rooftop bar offered traditional Korean liquors—we savored some excellent rice wine on our second night.
Hotel info: https://www.shillastay.com
Namwon: Korea’s City of Love and Nature
On our third day, we took a day trip to Namwon, known as Korea’s “City of Love.” We went by taxi and returned by train (note: the station is a bit far from the main attractions).
Namwon is famous for the Chunhyangjeon love story—often called Korea’s Romeo and Juliet—and as the gateway to Jirisan National Park.
this love story has been made into numerous movies over the years in both South and North Korea. I saw a North Korean version at UW in the mid-80s when there was brief period of cultural exchanges between both countries, which unfortunately did not last long.
Here are some reviews of these movies from Co-pilot:
Chunhyangjeon: A Love Story Across Borders and Centuries
Few stories in Korean literature have captured the imagination like Chunhyangjeon, the tale of unwavering love and defiance against injustice. Rooted in the pansori tradition, this narrative has traveled from oral performance halls to silver screens, evolving with each era while preserving its timeless themes of loyalty, virtue, and resistance.
From Pansori to Page: The Origins
Chunhyangjeon began as Chunhyangga, one of Korea’s five great pansori works. Performed by a singer and drummer, pansori blends song, speech, and rhythm into a dramatic experience that could last up to eight hours. The story follows Chunhyang, the daughter of a courtesan, and Mongryong, a nobleman’s son, whose secret marriage defies rigid class boundaries. When Mongryong leaves for Seoul, Chunhyang endures imprisonment rather than submit to a corrupt magistrate—her steadfastness becomes a symbol of Confucian virtue and personal integrity.
UNESCO recognized pansori as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2003, underscoring its cultural significance. Learn more about pansori
South Korean Cinematic Adaptations
The story’s cinematic journey began in 1923 with a silent film during the colonial era. By 1935, sound brought new life to the narrative, and in 1955, Chun-Hyang Story marked a post-war revival. Directed by Lee Gyu-hwan, it showcased Chunhyang’s courage and Mongryong’s dramatic return as a secret royal inspector—a trope beloved in Korean storytelling.
The 1961 Shin Sang-ok version introduced color and grandeur, while the 1971 70mm adaptation pushed technical boundaries. In 2000, Im Kwon-taek’s Chunhyang reimagined the tale by weaving live pan sori narration into the film, earning international acclaim at Cannes. Explore the film history
Personal Note: I saw this version as well as well as a Pan sori version as this story is one of the most famous pan sori stories
. The North Korean Lens
In 1988, North Korea presented its own interpretation of Chunhyangjeon. While the core plot remained, the ideological framing shifted. Chunhyang’s resistance was portrayed less as romantic fidelity and more as a metaphor for class struggle and loyalty to socialist ideals. The tone was austere, emphasizing collective virtue over personal desire—a stark contrast to South Korea’s vibrant, pansori-infused versions that celebrated individual love and Confucian ethics.
Why These Differences Matter
South Korean adaptations often highlight emotional depth, artistry, and cultural heritage, while North Korean versions lean toward didactic narratives aligned with state ideology. This divergence reflects how art becomes a mirror of political and social values.
Literary Legacy
From oral tradition to modern cinema, Chunhyangjeon remains a cornerstone of Korean literature. Its enduring appeal lies in universal themes—love tested by adversity, integrity against corruption—that resonate across centuries and borders. Read more on the literary roots
Final Thoughts
Whether experienced through the rhythmic chants of pansori or the sweeping visuals of film, Chunhyangjeon is more than a love story—it’s a cultural touchstone that continues to inspire reinterpretation. Each version, from Seoul to Pyongyang, tells us as much about the storytellers as it does about Chunhyang herself.
Namwon Traditional Market
Must-try: chueotang (loach stew), the city’s signature dish.
Namwon River Walk: A Scenic Stroll Through Korea’s City of Love
Nestled in Namwon, Jeollabuk-do—famously known as the “City of Love” thanks to the legendary Chunhyangjeon story—the Nawon River Walk offers more than just a tranquil riverside path. It’s a journey through history, romance, and nature, making it a perfect addition to any cultural travel itinerary.
Autumn: Fiery foliage creates a stunning backdrop.
Evening: Soft lighting along the path makes for a romantic stroll.
Tips for Visitors
Rent a hanbok near Gwanghallu for an immersive cultural experience.
Combine the walk with a visit to Jirisan National Park for hiking enthusiasts.
Bring a camera—the river walk offers panoramic views of Namwon’s historic skyline.
Why It’s Special
Unlike urban river walks, the Nawon River Walk is infused with cultural symbolism. Every step echoes the themes of loyalty and love from Chunhyangjeon, making it more than a scenic route—it’s a living story.
Jirisan National Park
Korea’s first and largest mainland park, with hiking trails, temples, and stunning scenery.
Park info: https://english.knps.or.kr
Namwon is more than a destination—it’s a living storybook of romance, culture, and nature.
Our final stop was Busan, where we celebrated my 70th birthday in style at the Paradise Casino Resort on Haeundae Beach. We scored a VIP deal that included breakfast, afternoon tea, and happy hour in a private lounge. We even joined the casino membership program—they gave us $100 to play with, and we walked away with $180!
The resort also features a spa, sauna, and a solid fitness center. We spent two days exploring Haeundae and capped the trip with an incredible sushi lunch on our last day.
Bonus: The resort offers a generous 50% discount for U.S. military-affiliated guests—a great reason to return.
Hotel info: https://www.paradisehotel.co.kr
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I also looked up my astrological charts etc and included it
And some of my birthday poems as well as events that happened on my birthday.
Incidentally, the Dodgers won the world series against the Yankees in 1955.
Enjoy
Hoping for many more to come
Jake
My Fan Story buddy, Debbie Pick Marquette, does great birthday tribute poems for her friends on their birthdays. This is her third birthday tribute, and I appreciate them all.
I had a good 69th birthday. Angela and I went to the Seven Feathers Indian Casino and I won 200 dollars and had a great steak dinner. Many people send me FB messages and emails congratulating me on my birthday.
Thanks
Debbie Pick Marquette is a Fan Story fan who writes great birthday tributes. She wrote one this year and last year. See below
Travel isn’t just about places—it’s about moments. This birthday trip gave me a tapestry of experiences: the quiet dignity of Jeonju’s shrines, the romantic whispers of Namwon’s legends, and the vibrant pulse of Busan’s coastline. If you’re looking for a journey that blends history, culture, and a touch of luxury, these three destinations are a perfect trio.
I recently had the opportunity to tour the new United States Army Museum, which opened last year at Fort Belvoir in Alexandria, VA. It’s open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and accessible by metro bus from the Springfield Metro station on the Blue Line. Admission is free.
The museum moved me deeply. My spouse served 22 years in the U.S. Army before retiring as a major. She lived some of the very history captured on those walls. A trailblazer in her own right, she was the first Korean-born female U.S. Army officer to serve in Korea. That legacy echoes through the museum’s corridors.
Spanning 250 years of Army history, the collection walks you through America’s military evolution — from ragtag militias to global force. As a Civil War buff who’s visited most of the DC-area battlefields, I found myself drawn to the Revolutionary and Civil War halls, which capture the grit and chaos of a country torn and reborn. We didn’t have time to try the VR exhibit, which simulates a battlefield experience in startling clarity — “intense,” they say. Next time, for sure.
US Army Museum
🪖 National Museum of the United States Army – Fort Belvoir, VA
This is the official museum of the U.S. Army, opened on Veterans Day, November 11, 2020, and located just outside Washington, D.C. It’s the first museum to comprehensively tell the story of the Army’s entire history — from 1775 to today.
🧭 Highlights
Founding the Nation Gallery: Covers the Revolutionary War and early Army history.
Preserving the Nation Gallery: Civil War artifacts, including the “Napoleon” cannon.
Global War Gallery: WWII exhibits, including a Higgins boat from D-Day and the “Cobra King” Sherman tank.
Cold War & Changing World Galleries: Korea, Vietnam, and the Global War on Terror.
Army and Society Gallery: Explores the Army’s impact on American culture and innovation.
Medal of Honor Experience: Indoor and outdoor tributes to valor.
Experiential Learning Center: STEM-focused hands-on exhibits and VR battlefield simulations.
📍 Visitor Info
Address: 1775 Liberty Drive, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060
Access: Reachable via Metro bus from the Springfield Metro station (Blue Line)
⚓ National Museum of the United States Navy – Washington, D.C.
on my bucket list for my next trip to DC
Located at the Washington Navy Yard, this is the flagship museum of the U.S. Navy, chronicling naval history from the American Revolution to modern operations.
🧭 Highlights
Civil War ironclads, WWII submarines, and Cold War artifacts
Full-size replica of the USS Fletcher bridge
Exhibits on polar exploration, naval aviation, and spaceflight
Outdoor displays include a 14-inch naval railway gun, Swift Boat, and artifacts from USS Maine
Access: Located on an active military base — visitors may need to apply for a day pass or be escorted by someone with credentials
✈️ National Museum of the United States Air Force – Dayton, Ohio
This is the world’s largest military aviation museum, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. It spans over 19 acres of indoor exhibits and features more than 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles.
🧭 Highlights
Presidential Aircraft Gallery: Tour planes used by JFK, Eisenhower, and Reagan
Space Gallery: Includes the Apollo 15 Command Module and NASA’s Crew Compartment Trainer
Cold War & Stealth Tech: See the B-2 Spirit, F-117 Nighthawk, and SR-71 Blackbird
Memphis Belle, Bockscar, and other legendary bombers
Interactive exhibits, STEM learning nodes, and a massive 3D theater
This visit sparked a deeper dive into other museums that carry the weight of war, memory, and identity — some stateside, some abroad, each revealing a different face of conflict.
🧬 National Museum of Health and Medicine – Silver Spring, MD
Military medicine through the ages, from battlefield surgeries to forensic identification.
🔗 medicalmuseum.health.mil | ☎️ (301) 319-3300
🛩️ Travis Air Force Base Aviation Museum – Fairfield, CA
Another impressive museum. I had a private tour of the museum conducted by an air force retiree. The museum has a full scale mock Fat Boy Hiroshima bomb.
Airpower on display — C-5 Galaxy, B-52 Stratofortress, and stories from the Berlin Airlift to modern deployments.
🔗 travisheritagecenter.org | ☎️ (707) 424-5605
Located about 50 miles north of SF. One has to arrange access to the base in advance but the museum is worth a trip.
⚔️ Sites of Blood and Resolve: Battlefields of the Revolution and Civil War
Here are some places that blur the line between history and haunting.
🕊️ Along the Edge: Touring the Korean DMZ & Aegibong Peak
I have toured this musuem many times over the years. I always come back with more knowledge about the Korean war.
Massive museum with over 33,000 artifacts
Features the “Statue of Brothers,” outdoor tanks, aircraft, and immersive exhibits
Address: 29 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Nearest subway is Samgaki on the blue line
Phone: +82-2-709-3144
Hours: 9:30 AM–6:00 PM (Closed Mondays)
🇰🇷 Korean DMZ Tour
I have toured the DMZ a number of times over the years. I also taught classes on the DMZ for four months in 1982.
Visit infiltration tunnels, overlook North Korea from observatories, and stand at Dorasan Station awaiting reunification.
🔗 dmztours.com | Klook DMZ Tours
🏞️ Aegibong Peace Ecological Park – Gimpo, South Korea
This is the closet spot one can get to overlooking North Korea. Once a bloody battleground, now a tranquil ridge watching over the North. The observatory and memorial hall make this a place of reflection.
🔗 aegibong.or.kr | ☎️ +82-31-5186-4030
I had the pleasure of getting a tour with the Director of the Museum, who retired from the Army Office of the Historian before taking charge of this impressive museum.
Patch by patch, battle by battle — this museum tracks the 2ID’s legacy in Korea and beyond.
🔗 2ID Museum Overview | ☎️ +82-50-3357-4011
A sobering look at the Vietnam War through Vietnamese eyes: Agent Orange, prison recreations, and chilling artifacts.
🔗 baotangchungtichchientranh.vn | ☎️ +84-28-3930-6664
🔫 Cu Chi Tunnels – Ho Chi Minh City
Comment: Very impressive and somber place. The Vietnamese defeated the US and the South Vietnamese Army largely through these network of tunnels that allowed them to send troops and supplies deep behind enemy lines. The US was never able to shut them down entirely, the tunnels were also too small for the average American GI to crawl through. End Comment
Guerrilla warfare beneath your feet — crawl through the tunnels, examine traps, and hear the stories of underground survival.
🔗 Cu Chi Tours by Les Rives | ☎️ +84-28-3794-8830
🧭 [Khe Sanh Combat Base – Quang Tri Province]
Site of the 1968 siege; includes museum and original fortifications
Tanks, helicopters, and bunkers left behind by U.S. forces
Capitol Hill Rag, the monthly newsletter for the Capitol Hill district in D.C., will publish four of my Lincoln Park Poems—plus Summer in D.C. Haiku—in their next issue, due in August. I’ll update this later with the link once it’s available. You can read the Capitol Hill Rag online at HillRag | Capital Community News.
Capitol Hill has changed dramatically over the past decade. It’s now a vibrant, lively, hipster neighborhood. We’ve owned a classic row house on East Capitol Street since 2015, and I lived there during my assignment with the State Department. I plan to move back in a few years’ time.
Lincoln Park has always been one of my favorite little parks in D.C. Back in the bad old days, it was an open-air drug market, and there were crack houses nearby. Those days are long gone. Capitol Hill used to be majority African American; now it’s majority white, and the average home price is close to a million dollars. It’s always had a fair number of congressional staff and members living nearby—and it still does. Many of the newer residents are lawyers and lobbyists.
The neighborhood is poised for significant redevelopment as the D.C. Commanders return to RFK Stadium, just a few blocks away. The site will be extensively redeveloped with housing, retail, the new stadium, and hotels in the coming years.
Here, then, are my Season of Lincoln Park Poems, written a few years ago, and my Summer in D.C. Haiku:
Four Lincoln Park Poems
Summer
Lincoln Park shines bright
in the summer,
The beating heart of the Imperial city,
On Capitol Hill, just blocks away
From the homes of the power elites.
Tall trees stand guard
Over the humans and their dog masters.
The trees have heard things,
Seen things—yet remain discreet,
Being trees, after all.
The park slumbers on
As the humid sauna of the day
Gives way to a tropical night.
Fireflies emerge,
gossiping with the trees and flowers
About what fools these mortals are.
As Capitol Hill residents retreat indoors,
Their air-conditioned classic row houses
Stand guard over the park.
Autumn
Autumn leaves fall
All around Lincoln Park,
At the center of the universe.
The trees shed their leaves,
A riot of brilliant color in the autumn light.
Part of the annual display,
God’s masterpiece,
A show for humankind
and their dog masters.
Nearby, self-proclaimed
masters of the universe
Are too busy saving the world
To pause and take
In Lincoln Park’s splendor.
Winter
As winter descends upon the city,
Lincoln Park transforms into a wonderland.
Snow blankets the ground,
And bare trees shiver in the cold.
The trees recall a time,
Not too long ago,
When Lincoln Park
Was an open-air drug market,
And crack houses stood nearby.
Those days are long gone.
The average home now
Sells for over a million dollars,
And the old African American community
Has largely been replaced by wealthy white residents.
But the trees remember—
And they mourn the loss.
The newcomers, nice enough,
Barely notice Lincoln Park.
Too busy in their important lives
To stroll through the winter’s quiet beauty.
The trees wish they could speak—
They have so much to say.
Springtime
My favorite season
In Lincoln Park is springtime,
When the park bursts into bloom.
Cherry blossoms, fresh green grass,
A welcoming sight for humans
And their dog masters.
Springtime breathes new life
Into the neighborhood—
Dogs walk their owners
Through the park,
People embrace the moment,
Filled with warmth and possibility.
Winter’s darkness fades,
And hope returns.
Cherry blossoms
begin to snow,
Petals littering the ground,
Reminding us all
That nothing lasts forever.
Lincoln Park, transient in nature,
Reflects the rhythm of the Imperial city.
Few remain for long—
The cycle continues.
But the trees endure,
Silent witnesses
To the passage of time.
Summer in D.C. Haiku
Summer in D.C.
Hot, humid, tropical days—
Madness on TV
Capitol Hill Background Info
Co-Pilot provided background info on Capitol Hill neighborhood.
Here’s a detailed snapshot of the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Washington, D.C., based on the most recent available data:
🧍 Total Population
8,745 residents live in Capitol Hill
Area: 0.519 square miles
Population density: 16,839 people per sq mi
👥 Population by Race
Race/Ethnicity
Percentage
White
59.9%
Black or African American
24.8%
Asian
4.2%
Hispanic or Latino
7.1%
Native American
0.1%
Other / Mixed
3.9%
🚻 Gender Breakdown
Gender
Population
Percentage
Male
4,416
50.5%
Female
4,329
49.5%
📊 Age Distribution
🏘️ Lincoln Park (Population ~7,763)
Trends Over the Last Decade:
Population Growth: Modest but steady, reflecting stable residential appeal
Median Age: 37 years — slightly older than Capitol Hill, suggesting a mix of professionals and established families
Racial Composition:
White: 74%
Black or African American: 13%
Hispanic: 5%
Asian: 5%
Household Size: Average of 2.13 people per household
Single-Parent Households: 3.39% — relatively low, indicating a high proportion of dual-income or child-free households
🌳 Capitol Hill East (Population ~13,486)
Trends Over the Last Decade:
Population Growth: Stronger than Lincoln Park, with a projected increase from ~9,164 in 2020 to over 10,000 by 2030
Median Age: ~34.8 years — younger than Lincoln Park, aligning with an influx of younger professionals and new families
Population Density: ~17,893 people per sq mi — slightly denser than Capitol Hill proper
Demographic Shifts:
Increasing share of White and Asian residents
Declining share of long-time Black residents, reflecting broader gentrification patterns
Household Composition: Similar to Capitol Hill, with a mix of singles, couples, and small families
The redevelopment of the RFK Stadium site in Washington, D.C. is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious urban projects in the city’s history. Here’s a comprehensive look at what’s planned and how it could reshape the surrounding neighborhoods:
🏟️ What the RFK Redevelopment Entails
Project Overview:
A $3.7 billion mixed-use development led by the Washington Commanders and the D.C. government
Anchored by a 65,000-seat covered stadium for year-round events, including NFL games, concerts, and conventions
Target opening: Fall 2030, with groundbreaking expected in 2026, pending D.C. Council approval
Key Features:
6,000 new housing units, with at least 30% designated affordable
A public SportsPlex for youth athletics and recreation ($89 million budgeted)
Entertainment districts, hotels, restaurants, and retail zones along the Anacostia River
8,000 parking spaces and improved public transit access, including a potential new Metro station
Preservation of the Fields at RFK for community sports during construction
🌆 Impact on Surrounding Neighborhoods
Economic Development:
Estimated $4 billion in tax revenue and $15.6 billion in direct spending over 30 years
Creation of 14,000 construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs
Potential to host major events like the Women’s World Cup, Super Bowl, and WrestleMania
Community Revitalization:
Promises of new grocery stores, green space, and recreation centers in underserved areas like Ward 7
Improved public access to the Anacostia River and preservation of wetlands
Plans to designate 30% of the campus as parkland for passive and active recreation
Concerns & Controversies:
Local groups like Homes Not Stadiums argue the stadium is not the community’s top priority, citing a lack of enforceable housing deadlines
Some residents worry about traffic, noise, and displacement, especially in Kingman Park and Hill East
The D.C. Council is still debating the deal, with a vote expected later this summer
Note: In my opinion, it would be extremely short-sighted to turn down this redevelopment project, and I do not foresee it becoming derailed.
The 2nd ID museum at Camp Humphreys is also worth a visit. The Director of the Museum is an affable retired US Army Colonel whose last job in active duty was as the chief of the US military historian office.
Co PIlot provided the following background information.
Base access is required to tour the museum which is located across from the USO.
Tell me Abut the 2nd ID museum at Camp Humphreys
Copilot:
The 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) Museum at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of the 2nd Infantry Division and its role in various military operations. Here are some key highlights:
Educational Programs: The museum offers guided tours, staff rides to historical battle sites, and educational programs aimed at teaching soldiers, civilians, and students about the division’s history and the broader U.S. Army experience on the Korean peninsula2.
Since the 1960s, the 2nd Infantry Division’s primary mission has been the pre-emptive defense of South Korea in the event of an invasion from North Korea.
Approximately 17,000 soldiers serve in the division, with 10,000 stationed in South Korea—accounting for about 35% of the United States Forces Korea personnel.
Notably, the 2nd Infantry Division is unique: it includes South Korean soldiers (called KATUSA, or Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army) who serve alongside their American counterparts.
In summary, the 2nd Infantry Division has a rich legacy spanning both world wars and continues to play a vital role in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. 🌟 If you ever visit South Korea, consider paying homage to this remarkable division and the brave men and women who have served under its banner.
I have been to this museum twice. Once right after the normalization of relations in 1995 and in 2019, pre-COVID shut down. Vietnam War tourism is sadly a thing. I also toured the infamous Chu Chi Tunnels. The Vietnam War ended when I turned 18, so I never served.
Co-Pilot provided the following background information.
The War Remnants Museum, located in District 3 of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a powerful and moving museum dedicated to the history and impact of the Vietnam War. Here are some key highlights:
The Cu Chi Tunnels, located in the Cu Chi District of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Vietnam, are an extensive network of underground tunnels that played a significant role during the Vietnam War. Here are some key highlights:
I have been to the Vietnam War Memorial in DC a number of times over the years. Always impressive.
Co-Pilot provided the following additional information
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., stands as a poignant tribute to those who served during the Vietnam War. Let’s delve into the details:
It’s a solemn and reflective space, nestled within the heart of the National Mall.
Design and Symbolism:
The memorial consists of two primary elements:
The Wall: This iconic feature is a black granite V-shaped wall inscribed with the names of approximately 58,000 men and women who were killed or went missing in action during the Vietnam War. The names are listed chronologically, emphasizing the sacrifice of each individual.
The Three Soldiers Statue: Adjacent to the wall, you’ll find a bronze statue depicting three soldiers—a representation of the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who served.
The Vietnam War was deeply controversial, and the memorial serves as a place of healing, remembrance, and reconciliation.
Visitors often leave mementos—flowers, letters, and tokens of gratitude—near the names of their loved ones.
The stark black surface reflects the viewer, creating a powerful connection between the living and the fallen.
Vietnam Women’s Memorial:
Dedicated in 1993, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial stands nearby. It honors the more than 265,000 women who served during the Vietnam era. Their contributions often went unrecognized, and this memorial seeks to rectify that oversight.
Visiting the Memorial:
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is open 24 hours a day, allowing visitors to pay their respects at any time.
Whether you visit during the day or at night, the experience is deeply moving. The quiet, contemplative atmosphere encourages reflection.
Remembering Sacrifice:
Each name on the wall represents a life cut short, a family forever changed. It’s a stark reminder of the cost of war.
As you trace your fingers over the engraved letters, you can’t help but feel the weight of history and honor the bravery of those who served.
If you ever find yourself in Washington, D.C., take a moment to visit this solemn memorial. It’s a place where gratitude and grief intersect—a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. 🌸🇺🇸
I have been to several war museums over the years. Korea has two war museums. The first is the official Korean War museum in Seoul near the old US Army Headquarters. I first visited in 2000 shortly after it opened and recently visited it again. The exhibits are first class.
Co-pilot provided the following background information
The War Memorial of Korea, located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, is a comprehensive museum dedicated to the history of Korea’s military conflicts, with a significant focus on the Korean War (1950-1953). Here are some key highlights:
I have also been to the Korean War Memorial in Washington DC several times.
Sent by Copilot:
Certainly! The Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., stands as a solemn tribute to those who served during the Korean War (1950–1953). Here are some key details:
The memorial’s central theme is “Freedom Is Not Free.” It honors the men and women who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.
The design includes a Wall of Remembrance with etched images of soldiers, nurses, and other personnel who served during the war. The wall reflects the somber reality of sacrifice.
Stainless steel statues of 19 soldiers—representing a squad on patrol—stand in formation. These statues evoke a sense of duty, camaraderie, and the harsh conditions faced by those who fought.
The Pool of Remembrance reflects the soldiers and their surroundings, creating a contemplative space for visitors.
Visiting the Memorial:
The Korean War Veterans Memorial is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Whether you visit during the day or at night, the experience is moving.
Take your time to walk among the statues, read the inscriptions, and reflect on the sacrifices made during this often-called “Forgotten War.”
I am a big fan of quirky, unusual museums. in 2016, my wife and I drove across the country to celebrate my retirement from the U.S. Foreign Service, We covered 10,000 miles in three months hitting 35 States and seeing the sights along the way.
Rapid City Nowhere
In the summer of 2016,
We drove across the country
Just the wife and me
to celebrate
my retirement
from 27 Years
serving the country
as a diplomat
10,000 miles
35 states
Three months
on the road
I now know
why people don’t live
In South Dakota.
Hot, dry dusty
Windy as hell.
Black Hills are nice
But after seeing Mt. Rushmore
There is not much left to do
Rapid City
did not impress me
Nor did Sioux Falls
And “Wall Drugs”
Well, the free water
was nice
But it is a nothing town
In a nothing state.
On the edge of the badlands
And the Sioux reservation
There is a reason
the Indians live there
No one else wanted the land
And they are
warehoused there
So I drove through Rapid City
And thought that
it is the heart of Trump Land
The land of the forgotten
The left behind
Just another
nothing burger of a State
In the middle of nowhere
Truly flyover country
audio clips
Potato Museum
On the way to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, we stopped off at the Blackfoot Idaho Potato Museum dedicated to the lowly humble Idaho potato. Well worth the stop.
I was not a big fan of the Dakotas. The Badlands were interesting as was the town of Deadwood where we stopped off to drink in the Bar that is legendary where the 19th-century character Wild BIll Hitchcock met his demise cheating at poker – hence the famous Deadman’s hand Full house8s and two aces. Enjoyed drinking the Wyoming Whiskey which is a recreation of the legendary frontier drink.
We also stopped off at Walls Drug store for their legendary free water pit stop which dates back to the 1920s when they build the freeways across the Dakotas. it is about 90 miles from anywhere.
Another interesting stop along the way was the Corn Palace Museum in Mitchel, South Dakota outside of Sioux City, South Dakota. Another Mitchel attraction we did not stop off at was the George Mc Govern library honoring the late Senator George Mc Govern who famously lost to Richard Nixon in 1974 electoral wipe out, losing 49 states. . He was one the last of the great midwestern progressive populists which was a thing in the 20’s to the 80’s before the Republican party became too conservative for political leaders like Mc Govern.
Co-Piot has the details:
The Corn Palace, located in Mitchell, South Dakota, is a unique and iconic landmark known for its stunning murals made entirely from corn and other grains. Here are some key highlights:
There are also a lot of provincial parks in Korea as well. One of the most famous one is Manisan located on Gangwha Island about 90 minutes from Seoul which is reputed homeland of Korea. the founder of Korea Tan jun was a bear who wanted to become human and woke up from her hibernation to become the founding mother of the Korean race.
Dangun Wanggeom (or Tangun) was the legendary founder of Gojoseon (Gochoson or Old Choson), the first Korean state which ruled northern Korea in the second half of the first millennium BCE.
Due to the rapid urbanization of Korea, the Korean countryside has become depopulated. The Korean Government has rapidly expanded both the national parks and the national forest lands in Korea. With the decline in rural population, there has been a big increase in wildlife. Deer have made a big comeback, and there are bears in the mountains and wild boars. There is one Tiger preserve in Chitosan which has restricted entry to protect the tigers. There are feral cats everywhere, and wild dogs in the mountains as well. Hiking in the more isolated mountains is dangerous as well, as wild boars will attack humans, and there are criminal elements who hide out in the mountains preying on hikers.
During the course of my life, I have visited the majority of the 63 national parks in the United States, as well as most of the national monuments, and many of the battlegrounds as well.. One of my favorites has been the Redwood
s National Park located in Northwest California near my summer home in Medford, Oregon. I just got back from my 10th visit
over the years. I first visited this park in 1963 as a child and I awestruck by the beauty of the majestic redwoods.
All in on all great day.
here’s the list of List of national parks of the United States – I have bolded the ones I have visited, and put a star next to the ones still on my bucket list Now that I have visited all 50 states my remaining travel bucket list includes visiting all the national parks.
Interactive map (incomplete) of the National Parks of the United States.
The United States has 63 national parks, which are congressionally designated protected areas operated by the National Park Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior.[1] National parks are designated for their natural beauty, unique geological features, diverse ecosystems, and recreational opportunities, typically “because of some outstanding scenic feature or natural phenomena.”[2] While legislatively all units of the National Park System are considered equal with the same mission, national parks are generally larger and more of a destination, and hunting and extractive activities are prohibited.[3]National monuments, on the other hand, are also frequently protected for their historical or archaeological significance. Eight national parks (including six in Alaska) are paired with a national preserve, areas with different levels of protection that are administered together but considered separate units and whose areas are not included in the figures below. The 430 units of the National Park System can be broadly referred to as national parks, but most have other formal designations.[4]
There are 63 officially designated national parks in the United States and its dependent areas, as of 2021.[2] The national parks are considered the “crown jewels” of the system and are typically larger than other areas, including a variety of significant ecological and geological resources.
There are 129 national monuments, 84 of which are administered by the NPS and are listed below. Of these, 83 (all except Grand Canyon-Parashant) are NPS official units. The remaining 46 monuments are administered by five other federal agencies. Two, Grand Canyon–Parashant and Craters of the Moon National Monuments, are jointly administered by the NPS and the Bureau of Land Management, and Tule Lake National Monument is joint with the Fish and Wildlife Service. National monuments are typically smaller and protect just one or few major resources. They include both natural and historical sites and can be established by the president under the Antiquities Act. 34 former national monuments have been redesignated or incorporated into national parks.
The National Park Service areas of this monument were incorporated into Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, and the National Park Service no longer recognizes their portions of the national monument as distinct from the national historical park. The remaining portions of Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument continue to be operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Mukuntuweap National Monument (renamed Zion National Monument in 1918)
There are 18 national recreation areas administered by the National Park Service.[2] Another 22 national recreation areas are administered by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.
There are four national rivers (marked with an asterisk) and ten national wild and scenic rivers administered as distinct units of the National Park System.[2] There are many more national wild and scenic rivers that run through other units.
National reserves are partnerships between federal, state, and local authorities. Within the boundaries of the three national reserves are combinations of federal land (Park Service or National Wildlife Refuges), state parks and forests, local public lands, and private properties. Two national reserves are currently managed as official units.
These National Park Service trails are part of the larger National Trails System. Only six of the trails are considered official units of the park system.[2]
Most national cemeteries are administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, although a few are managed by the National Park Service and the U.S. Army. None of the cemeteries are considered official units of the system; they are all affiliated with other parks.
There are 11 NPS units of other designations, as well as other affiliated areas. The National Mall and National Capital Parks have many sites, some of which are also units of other designations.
In addition, there are sites where the NPS is authorized to provide financial and technical assistance to local authorities for interpretive or educational purposes, but do not have the right to acquire land or have a say in land use or zoning. These include the 55 National Heritage Areas, as well as National Commemorative Sites such as Quindaro Townsite or the Kennedy-King National Commemorative Site. There are also various administrative groups of listed parks, such as Manhattan Sites, National Parks of New York Harbor, and Western Arctic National Parklands. The NPS also owns conservation easements (but not the land itself) for part of the area called the Green Springs National Historic Landmark District.
In the 1930s and 1940s, the NPS developed dozens of recreational demonstration areas, most of which eventually became national or state parks.
A bill creating the first national park, Yellowstone, was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872, followed by Mackinac National Park in 1875 (decommissioned in 1895), and then Rock Creek Park (later merged into National Capital Parks), Sequoia and Yosemite in 1890. The Organic Act of 1916 created the National Park Service “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”[5] Many current national parks had been previously protected as national monuments by the president under the Antiquities Act or as other designations created by Congress before being redesignated by Congress; the newest national park is New River Gorge, previously a National River, and the most recent entirely new park is National Park of American Samoa. A few former national parks are no longer designated as such, or have been disbanded. Fourteen national parks are designated UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites (WHS),[6] and 21 national parks are named UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BR),[7] with eight national parks in both programs.
Thirty states have national parks, as do the territories of American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The state with the most national parks is California with nine, followed by Alaska with eight, Utah with five, and Colorado with four. The largest national park is Wrangell–St. Elias in Alaska: at over 8 million acres (32,375 km2), it is larger than each of the nine smallest states. The next three largest parks are also in Alaska. The smallest park is Gateway Arch National Park, Missouri, at 192.83 acres (0.7804 km2). The total area protected by national parks is approximately 52.4 million acres (212,000 km2), for an average of 833 thousand acres (3,370 km2) but a median of only 220 thousand acres (890 km2).[8]
During the course of my life, I have visited the majority of the 63 national parks in the United States, as well as most of the national monuments, and many of the battlegrounds as well.. One of my favorites has been the Redwood
s National Park located in Northwest California near my summer home in Medford, Oregon. I just got back from my 10th visit
over the years. I first visited this park in 1963 as a child and I awestruck by the beauty of the majestic redwoods.
All in on all great day.
here’s the list of List of national parks of the United States – I have bolded the ones I have visited, and put a star next to the ones still on my bucket list Now that I have visited all 50 states my remaining travel bucket list includes visiting all the national parks.
Interactive map (incomplete) of the National Parks of the United States.
The United States has 63 national parks, which are congressionally designated protected areas operated by the National Park Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior.[1] National parks are designated for their natural beauty, unique geological features, diverse ecosystems, and recreational opportunities, typically “because of some outstanding scenic feature or natural phenomena.”[2] While legislatively all units of the National Park System are considered equal with the same mission, national parks are generally larger and more of a destination, and hunting and extractive activities are prohibited.[3]National monuments, on the other hand, are also frequently protected for their historical or archaeological significance. Eight national parks (including six in Alaska) are paired with a national preserve, areas with different levels of protection that are administered together but considered separate units and whose areas are not included in the figures below. The 430 units of the National Park System can be broadly referred to as national parks, but most have other formal designations.[4]
There are 63 officially designated national parks in the United States and its dependent areas, as of 2021.[2] The national parks are considered the “crown jewels” of the system and are typically larger than other areas, including a variety of significant ecological and geological resources.
There are 129 national monuments, 84 of which are administered by the NPS and are listed below. Of these, 83 (all except Grand Canyon-Parashant) are NPS official units. The remaining 46 monuments are administered by five other federal agencies. Two, Grand Canyon–Parashant and Craters of the Moon National Monuments, are jointly administered by the NPS and the Bureau of Land Management, and Tule Lake National Monument is joint with the Fish and Wildlife Service. National monuments are typically smaller and protect just one or few major resources. They include both natural and historical sites and can be established by the president under the Antiquities Act. 34 former national monuments have been redesignated or incorporated into national parks.
The National Park Service areas of this monument were incorporated into Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, and the National Park Service no longer recognizes their portions of the national monument as distinct from the national historical park. The remaining portions of Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument continue to be operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Mukuntuweap National Monument
(renamed Zion National Monument in 1918)
There are 18 national recreation areas administered by the National Park Service.[2] Another 22 national recreation areas are administered by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.
There are four national rivers (marked with an asterisk) and ten national wild and scenic rivers administered as distinct units of the National Park System.[2] There are many more national wild and scenic rivers that run through other units.
National reserves are partnerships between federal, state, and local authorities. Within the boundaries of the three national reserves are combinations of federal land (Park Service or National Wildlife Refuges), state parks and forests, local public lands, and private properties. Two national reserves are currently managed as official units.
These National Park Service trails are part of the larger National Trails System. Only six of the trails are considered official units of the park system.[2]
Most national cemeteries are administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, although a few are managed by the National Park Service and the U.S. Army. None of the cemeteries are considered official units of the system; they are all affiliated with other parks.
There are 11 NPS units of other designations, as well as other affiliated areas. The National Mall and National Capital Parks have many sites, some of which are also units of other designations.
In addition, there are sites where the NPS is authorized to provide financial and technical assistance to local authorities for interpretive or educational purposes, but do not have the right to acquire land or have a say in land use or zoning. These include the 55 National Heritage Areas, as well as National Commemorative Sites such as Quindaro Townsite or the Kennedy-King National Commemorative Site. There are also various administrative groups of listed parks, such as Manhattan Sites, National Parks of New York Harbor, and Western Arctic National Parklands. The NPS also owns conservation easements (but not the land itself) for part of the area called the Green Springs National Historic Landmark District.
In the 1930s and 1940s, the NPS developed dozens of recreational demonstration areas, most of which eventually became national or state parks.
A bill creating the first national park, Yellowstone, was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872, followed by Mackinac National Park in 1875 (decommissioned in 1895), and then Rock Creek Park (later merged into National Capital Parks), Sequoia and Yosemite in 1890. The Organic Act of 1916 created the National Park Service “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”[5] Many current national parks had been previously protected as national monuments by the president under the Antiquities Act or as other designations created by Congress before being redesignated by Congress; the newest national park is New River Gorge, previously a National River, and the most recent entirely new park is National Park of American Samoa. A few former national parks are no longer designated as such, or have been disbanded. Fourteen national parks are designated UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites (WHS),[6] and 21 national parks are named UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BR),[7] with eight national parks in both programs.
Thirty states have national parks, as do the territories of American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The state with the most national parks is California with nine, followed by Alaska with eight, Utah with five, and Colorado with four. The largest national park is Wrangell–St. Elias in Alaska: at over 8 million acres (32,375 km2), it is larger than each of the nine smallest states. The next three largest parks are also in Alaska. The smallest park is Gateway Arch National Park, Missouri, at 192.83 acres (0.7804 km2). The total area protected by national parks is approximately 52.4 million acres (212,000 km2), for an average of 833 thousand acres (3,370 km2) but a median of only 220 thousand acres (890 km2).[8]
Seoul and DC opened their subways in 1974. I rode both for the first time in 1979. Both had about the same number of stations five or six stations on one line. What a difference 50 years has made. Seoul has build a world class subway system with over 24 lines, and over 600 stations stretching over 200 miles, while DC has build five lines and many people consider it to be among the worst subway systems in the world. I rode both for the first time in 1979 and I have been riding both ever since. I love the Seoul Metro and am glad that it has become one of the best subways in the world and I am very disappointed at the deterioration of the DC subway system and concur in the opinion that is now one of the worst mass transit systems in the world.
Seoul World Class System in 50 Years
50 years later since opening in 1974, the Seoul city subway has grown to be the biggest subway system in the world with 24 lines over 500 station stretching over 200 miles connecting many outlining cities too so as part of one integrated mass transit system connecting to subways in Eonjongbu, Incheon, Suwon and Taejon. it is cheap, efficient, fast. safe and foreigner-friendly. Most people in the Capital metro area live within a half a mile of a station. There are five more lines being planned and build. By 2025 there will be over 600 stations.
The GTX express subway lines are being built deep underground. When completed all parts of the capitol will be reachable within 30 minutes as opposed to two hours now. The first line opened in May this year, the remaining two lines open in 2028. Cities around the world are looking at this innovative new way of building mass transit systems.
The signs are and all announcements are in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese, and are very clear. Each subway station has a has a TV screen for stop announcements in the four languages. The fair machines operate in four languages as well.
The subway attendance all speak some English and are very helpful and friendly. Every subway stop has clean restrooms. Every station has services and restaurants, a number of stations featuring long underground shopping malls. The metro system makes so much money in renting shops and services and advertising that the fares are heavily subsided. You can pay by phone, credit card or T transit card. The trains are very clean and people can eat on the train without fear of being arrested. Close to 70% use the train frequently . The trains are safe, violent crime is almost unheard of, and there has never been a derailment or serious accident, the trains are repaired quickly, maintenance is never neglected. Foreign visitors love the system and use it frequently as it is quite foreigner friendly. Ridership at night is quite strong due to newly imposed strict drunk driving laws. the system runs from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.
The bus system is equally impressive and some lines run 24/7. They just rolled out a few driverless bus routes, and there are two driverless LRT systems in place.
DC Metro a Broken System
Contrast that with the DC Metro.
The DC Metro has five lines about 125 stations and will finally connect to the Dulles Airport next year, 50 years after first planning to extend to the airport. the system was planned before the dramatic development of suburban Virginia and Maryland and the system does not serve the suburban areas very well as the majority of the train stations are in DC, or Arlington county. Because there is only one tunnel under the river trains to Virginia are forced to use one tunnel making it difficult to schedule trains. The train are expensive, overcrowded, dangerous and only about 25% of the region are within a one mile walk to the a train stations. there have been a number of derailments, fires, and violent attacks on the subway.
It takes months to repair the escalators which are frequently broken. The stations do not have restrooms or any service and is against the law to eat or drink on the train. The Subway has just added Wifi, The loudspeaker system is very poor and most of the time you cannot hear the announcement; announcements are only in English, and Spanish. The transfer stations are few and far between. In one instance there are two stations on two different lines about 1/8 of a mile apart with no underground connections like you find all over the Seoul metro system.
The subway fare machines are also only in English. The cost to use the metro is about 10 times the cost of using the Seoul Metro, in recent years, a number of stations have been taken off-line for repairs. The attendants are not friendly or helpful. Only ten percent of the public use the metro but half of tourists use the metro. and the metro is confusing and foreigner unfriendly. The bus system is also inadequate although there are a few quasi Bus rapid lines open. Last year the system finally allowed one to pay by credit card or by phone, something that people have been able to do in Seoul for ten years. On the plus side, the metro has rolled out new cars, and completed repairs on many stations and opened a few in-filled stations like in Potomac Yards next to the new Amazon DC headquarters. There is also a commuter rail line in Virginia and In Maryland -VRE and MARC. Baltimore has its own metro line,
What Accounts for the Difference in Outcomes?
What accounts for these different outcomes for systems that were build in the same year?
In Korea, there was widespread support for the government to build a world class subway system, a willingness to spend tax dollars on it, and everyone uses the system not just the lower classes as in the U.S., fewer environmental regulations, and few areas to block construction unlike in the U.S. where excessive regulation and ability to block construction make building transit systems particularly challenging not to mention the widespread hostility to government infrastructure spending using tax money. Also given the low density nature of urban suburban sprawl in the U.S. metro areas, it is difficult to build out such a system. Although LA is doing a fantastic job of doing so.
Political Will to Construct a World Class System in Seoul
First, and foremost the Korean government put money, effort and political will into building a modern world class transportation and infrastructure. Much of the cost of the metro comes through rental revenues and advertisement income. Less than 50 % comes from fares because the government subsidizes fares to keep the cost of using the system very reasonable to ensure larger ridership.
Second ,in Korea public domain laws are very strong and it is almost impossible to block extensions of either subways or freeway system and there would be no support for blocking construction. In fact there is strong support for continuing expanding the system and five more lines are under planning or construction, including the GTX system which will make all areas of Seoul accessible within 30 minutes as opposed to the two hours it can sometimes take. The first line opened this May, the remaining two lines open by 2028.
Third, there is no requirements for environmental impact assessments or other regulatory burdens that make it difficult to build public infrastructure in the United States
Forth, there is broad public support for Government investment in infrastructure, and lack of hostility towards government spending.
Fifth, the subway system is managed very efficiently. There are actually four Corporation involved but coordination it’s very well-done and the user does not even know that there are four corporations involved, for the user there is only one system. Transfers between different lines is easy as there are always underground passageways connecting the different lines.
Sixth, the metro system goes everywhere in the metro area. Everyone is within a half a mile walk from the nearest subway station.
Finally, and most importantly, everyone uses the metro, even the wealthy use the system from time to time, It is truly a mass transit system for the benefit of the public.
Contrast this with the DC Metro Experience – Lack of Political Will to Construct and Maintain a World Class System
The DC Metro generates about half of revenues through fares, There is no rental income, but some advertisement income and parking fee income as well. . Keeping fares low was never a priority for the system. There is no dedicated funding. The system is run jointly by DC ,Virginia, Maryland and the federal government and they don’t often agree on fundamental issues, and no one is really in charge. Lack of funding especially no rental income and marginal ad revenue and parking revenues, has always meant that the system neglected maintenance to the point that they have to rebuild the system station by station at a very high cost. The constant construction has resulted in many riders fleeing the system, leading to decreased revenues and the need to increase fares due to the shortage of fare income. In many respects the DC metro system is a perfect case study of how not to manage a large transit system whereas the Seoul system is a poster child for proper transit system management.
Second, although there is support for the Metro among residents of DC there is not that much support. in the outer suburbs and congressman from rural areas are hostile to spending tax dollars to support public transit improvements as it does not benefit their constituents. Due to Gerrymandering and the requirement that each state has two Senators, rural interests are vastly over represented in Congress. Related to this is the widespread feeling that all government spending is somehow bad, and that the private sector will and should solve all problems. The Republican party is also committed to keeping taxes as low as possible especially for the rich donor class, and starving the federal government of needed funds for such things as infrastructure improvements. and will not consider raising taxes today for infrastructure especially mass transit. There is a wide spread feeling that transit systems should be funded entirely through fares, while freeways should be kept free to users.
Only Losers Use Public Transit
Since so few people actually use the system, and there is a widespread feeling that only lower class people use the system, there is little political support for the system which is used by other people. Or as Homer Simpson said once, “only losers ride the bus.” Unfortunately the view is widespread in the U.S. As a result, US infrastructure has been consistently rated a D- grade by the American Association for Civil Engineering. Even with the passage of the infrastructure bill, the amount of money being spent on infrastructure is a fraction of what is needed and there is no political will to raise taxes or borrow trillion of dollars to rebuild America’s crumbling third-world looking infrastructure, particularly mass transit systems which are mostly used by the poor.
Government Quit Investing in Infrastructure Starting in the late 70’s
Related to this the government starting in the 1980s, quit making investments in public infrastructure and the cost to rebuild American infrastructure will exceed $3 trillion. There is no political well to cut bloated defense and national security spending to devote to rebuilding infrastructure nor is there any willingness to raise taxes to pay for infrastructure investments. This corresponds with the rise of hostility to government spending on anything other than national defense, and the rise of the right-wing in the U.S. where hostility towards government, and government spending is the main motivational factor.. Not to mention, the strong desire to keep taxes as low as possible.
Third, environmental regulations, legal restrictions and the NIMBY ( Not in my backyard) feeling makes planning and funding infrastructure very difficult.
Fourth, the system was not planned out very well there’s no equivalent to the number two line circular line and transferring between stations is difficult . There is one station where two lines come together about a 1/8 a mile apart but there is no underground passageway connecting the two lines. When the system was planned in the late 60’s, most people commuted to jobs in the district or in Arlington county. No one anticipated the rapid development of Fairfax, London and Prince William counties in Virgina and suburban Maryland as well. Thus the stations no longer go where people need to go.
Kissinger Moved the Metro from the State Department Fearing Some One Would Bomb the State Department
An interesting anecdote is that the original plan was for a Metro stop under the State Department with an underground passageway to the Kennedy Center .Kissinger felt that someone might blow up the State Department ordered the line to be relocated 3/4 mile away, and an underground passage way to the Kennedy center was never built. But he did not have that fear about the Pentagon station which goes right underneath the Pentagon and has become a major bus transit station as well.
Georgetown Station Blocked by fear too many black people would use the system to go to Georgetown.
The planned station in Georgetown was block by opposition from mostly white locals who were afraid too many black undesirables would be able to easily get to Georgetown.
No One In Charge Divided Responsibilities
Finally, because the metro is divided between the District, Maryland and Virgina (DMV) and the federal government and no one is really charge it is very difficult to manage the system. This is compounded by the lack of dedicated funding and almost no rental income. All of which makes it difficult to keep up on maintenance or to expand the system which needs to be done. The DC metro area has grown to over 7 million people and is close to NYC in population density without the transit and other infrastructure to support such a large population.
Recommendations for DC Metro
My recommendations to the DC metro system is to ask for dedicated funding, to open retail services in all stations in order to the increase revenues and ridership. Add restrooms to each station. Lift the ban on eating and drinking on the trains. Fix the announcement system and make all announcements in English, Spanish and perhaps Chinese? make the fare boxes trilingual as well.
Reorganize the system to become the Metropolitan Metro authority with authority over the trains, the bus systems and the commuter railroads. An advisory committee consisting of representatives of DC, Maryland, Virginia, the Federal Government, staff members of Congress, Congressmen, riders and employees would advise the board.
Expand or Die
The DC metro needs to dramatically expand the number of stations, doubling the number of stations within ten years and expanding the system all the way to Quantico in Virginia and all the way to Baltimore where it would connect to the Baltimore transit system. They also need to construct another tunnel under the river.
The Metro system needs to develop an ambitious plan to double the number of station within ten years including building a new tunnel underground river under the Potomac River and building two Circular lines, an inner line and an outer line, perhaps on top of 495, 395 and 295, (Note: Seoul needs to build an outer circular line as well end note)
.
One line would go down to Quantico, going through Ford Belvoir, another line should connect Springfield to Tysons and a final line should be constructed along Columbia Pike and Little River Turnpike. in Maryland I would build a line along Rockville Pike, and build a line connecting Colombia to Baltimore connecting with the Baltimore metro system.
Visit Seoul for Inspiration and to Learn How to Do it Right
The metro board should travel to East Asia and see not only the Seoul Metro, but also the Beijing, Bangkok, Hong Kong,, Tapei, and the new Jarkata metros as well as the Calcuta, Dehli and Mumbai metro systems. They should also go to London, Mexico City, Madrid, Paris, Rome and Moscow to see what world class subways systems look like and how they were able to build these state of the art systems.
,The writer, a retired US diplomat living in Gimpo, Korea first rode both systems in 1979 and has used both systems over the years. He is very pleased at the development of the Seoul system into one of the best in the world, and very disappointed in the deterioration of the DC Metro over the same time period.
The Seoul Metropolitan Subway is a metropolitan railway system in Seoul, South Korea. This map includes the Incheon Metro system and the Shinbundang Line covering the Seoul metropolitan area. All together system consists of 24 lines and 580 stations. The Seoul Metropolitan Subway began operation in August 1974.
Seoul Metropolitan Subway Map
Metro Lines
Incheon Subway Line 1 (Gyeyang – International Business District)
Incheon Subway Line 2 (Geomdan Oryu – Unyeon)
e 1 (Soyosan – Gwangmyeong)
Line 1 (Soyosan – Seodongtan)
e 2 Seongsu Branch (Seongsu – Sinseol-dong)
Line 2 Sinjeong Branch (Sindorim – Kkachisan)
Line 3 (Daehwa – Ogeum)
Line 4 (Danggogae – Oido)
Line 5 Macheon Branch (Banghwa – Macheon)
e 7 (Jangam – Bupyeong-gu Office)
e 8 (Amsa – Moran)
Gyeongui–Jungang Line (Munsan – Yongmun)
Gyeongchun Line (Kwangwoon University – Chuncheon)
Riding through some of the world’s most impressive metro systems will make your urban trip more than just traveling from point A to point B. These metro stations will provide you with efficiency and cleanliness, a pinch of local flavor, or a story that will stay with you forever. Also, these metro systems elevate the ordinary to the extraordinary, housing anything from underground art galleries to cutting-edge wonders that whiz past historic sites.
1. Tokyo, Japan – A Timeliness System
Tokyo’s metro system sets the gold standard if you’re looking for punctuality. With a network that feels like a living, breathing entity, it’s a marvel of precision engineering and courteous service. The trains are famously timely, and the stations are immaculately clean. Plus, it’s more than simply transportation; it’s a whole cultural experience, with each line narrating the city’s history.
2. Seoul, South Korea – The Digital Dynamo
A haven for techies, the Seoul Metro integrates modern conveniences with state-of-the-art amenities. It is a futuristic system with features like digital screens showing real-time travel information and trains equipped with Wi-Fi. You can easily navigate this extensive network with the T-money card. In addition, the cleanliness is top-notch.
3. Moscow, Russia – An Underground Palace
Stepping into Moscow’s metro stations is like walking into a wealthy art gallery. Decorated with mosaics, statues, and chandeliers, each station has its own theme and history, making your commute feel like a cultural expedition. Despite its grandeur, Moscow’s metro is also one of the most efficient, carrying millions of passengers daily with minimal fuss.
4. London, England – The Historical Pioneer
The London Underground, affectionately known as “The Tube,” is the world’s oldest metro system. Its iconic map and roundel are recognized globally. While it might not always boast the punctuality of its Asian counterparts, the Tube holds a special place in the heart of Londoners and travelers alike for its role in shaping the modern city and its resilience during adversity.
5. Paris, France – The Artistic Commute
Paris’s metro is as much a part of the city’s fabric as its cafés and boulevards. The art-nouveau entrances of certain stations and the modern art on display at others tell distinct stories. Enjoy a trip that echoes memories of Paris’s vivid past and dynamic present on this distinctively Parisian network.
6. Singapore – The Clean and Green Express
The MRT system in Singapore is an example of the city-state’s dedication to environmental preservation and cleanliness. It’s one of the cleanest and most efficient in the world, where eating and drinking are strictly prohibited to maintain its pristine condition. The system is also a ride through a garden, with many stations integrating natural elements and greenery.
7. Hong Kong – The Compact Powerhouse
In the densely packed city of Hong Kong, the MTR system stands out for its efficiency and ease of use. Trains and stations are spotlessly clean, and the Octopus card system makes navigating this metropolis a breeze. It exemplifies how a metro system can become ingrained in a city’s core and easily carry millions of people.
8. Madrid, Spain – The Expansive Network
Although it is one of Europe’s most extensive metros, Madrid’s system stands out for its efficiency and user-friendliness. The stations are spotless, brightly lit, and decorated with artwork, and the trains operate without a hitch. In keeping with the city’s kind and inviting vibe, the system manages to be both massive and personal.
9. Berlin, Germany – The Historical Connector
Berlin’s U-Bahn takes you on a journey through time. The network navigates through a city that has seen profound changes, and its stations often serve as mini-museums. These stops display photos and artifacts. Beyond its historical allure, the U-Bahn is known for its punctuality, comprehensive coverage, and spirited station art.
10. New York City, USA – The Unstoppable Workhorse
The New York City Subway is the lifeblood of the Big Apple. It may not win any awards for cleanliness, but its 24/7 service and extensive network are unparalleled. Each line has its own personality, and the system serves as a melting pot, reflecting the city’s diverse cultures. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s undeniably New York.
I just got back from a trip to Seattle, one of my favorite cities in the world. I have a long family connection to Seattle. My grandfather met my grandmother at the University of Washington and they were a campus couple before he settled in the Yakima Valley in the 1920s. He was German-American and fought in World War One under his German name despite the widespread prejudice of the time, his wife was Norwegian, like many people in Washington State in those days.
My father went to the University of Washington in the 1940s and was a student activist vice president of the university students association and led a successful fight to integrate the University of Washington. For that, he was rewarded by being put on the FBI list of possible suspicious people because in those days the communist party was the leader in the early civil rights movement and was in favor of integration. After the university capitulated and allowed black students to attend the university, they required black students to live off-campus or in black dormitories. Right after my father led the fight to integrate student housing. The. FBI investigated my father and put him on the list of suspected suspected suspected people. They interviewed my father’s roommate who told them to go “f…themselves”.
My father got a PH.D. and was offered a position at the University of Washington in the economics department, but opted to move to UC Berkeley where he ended up being my mom. He had been married briefly in Seattle and had a daughter who grew up in Seattle.
I went back and forth to Yakima during the summers because my father had a summer home there and I visited Seattle once or twice as a child. Later in my 30s, I went to the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington and the Evans School of Public Affairs also at the University of Washington, My Korean-born wife and I became a campus couple as well. She attended the ROTC and was commissioned an officer after graduating from UW. While there we met a lot of the Korean- American community. Seattle has long had a large, vibrant Asian community and is the fifth-largest Korean community in the united states. We also visited Vancouver a lot and Yakima, Washington to visit my uncle who had taken over the family’s fruit business. Sadly, my father died in 1985 and we buried him in yakima. We visited his grave in Yakima in 2019.
Seattle weather blues
We liked Seattle very much, but only during the summer and springtime. The winters are cold, wet, and gloomy, with the sun setting at 4:00 pm and rising at 8:00 am. And we were gonna going to and from campus. In the dark, my wife did not like it. Neither did i, frankly.
I learned that in Seattle during the winter, the common greeting is
“nice weather for ducks”
because only the ducks like the cold, wet, rainy days. It rains there everyday for three or four months, but in the summer, it is delightful with sunset at about 10 p,m and sunrise at about 4:30 a.m.
Revisiting UW
So this time around. I spent a full day driving around with my wife and my Korean brother-in-law and my Korean niece. On the sides, when we drove up from Portland, where we were spending the night and spent the afternoon and early evening. We drove to the University of Washington campus, took a lot of pictures, and went out to old student housing at Sand Point Way, located at an abandoned navy base.
Visiting Seattle Center
We drove down to.the Seattle center and rode up to the space needle and took great pictures, i recalled my two memorable meals at the space needle. In 1988 my wife and i went there for my last meal in Seattle after graduating from UW. I also went there in 1979 for a pre-departure meet and greet when i joined the peace corps meeting in Seattle before flying to Narita, japan and onto Korea.
Pike Place Market – original Star Bucks
then we went to Pike Place Market and the original Starbucks and drove around.
Great food
Seattle is a foodie delight town. We left town around 8:00 pm and had a delightful seafood dinner in, of all places, federal way, where we found a restaurant called crawfish island which had some of the best crayfish, clams and. And fish that I’ve had in a long time. Ohh no, it was a great trip.
The previous time i’ve been in Seattle was a few years before when we drove up to Seattle, spent the night before taking my cruise to Alaska. . On that trip, we drove around the town as well and saw the things that had changed. Things had not changed. Ohh no. I was very impressed with Seattle this time around and i realized why it has become become a world-class city.
Northwest poems
I have had a long history
With the city of Seattle
Dating back to my grandparents
Who met there at UW and were
A campus couple.
And my father who attended UW
And became a student leader
Fighting to integrate the university.
I first visited the city
When i was a young man.
When we spend the summer
In Yakima
Where we had a family home.
Decades later, i visited the city
Before I went to the peace corps.
Then my wife and i lived there
For four years
While we were
Attending graduate school
At the University of Washington.
And we fell
under its seductive spell
Living and breathing Seattle.
Falling in love again
With the city in 1988.
We left the city
And traveled the world
Came back twice
Once to take
And pass the foreign service
Oral exam
And once decades later
To take a cruise to Alaska
And found that the city
Had changed in many ways
But the old Seattle remained
And i wanted to come back.
And now my nephew lives there
And my half-sister lives there
Adding another element to our family’s
On-going Seattle family history.
Why I had been there before
I cannot say, but this much I do know
Seattle remains a part of me
And i remain a part of its history.
Yakima Dessert blues
Yakima, Washington
The ancestral home
Of my father’s aller family
Since 1920.
Kept alive
In my family’s history
Went back and forth
Like a yo-yo between Yakima
And the Bay Area,
mostly when
I was a young man.
In 2019, i visited
The ghosts
at my father’s grave.
I did not realize
How much Yakima
had not changed
Ever since i was a child.
i thought that Yakima
Simply was too much
Of a desert outpost
Even then i knew.
Why my father
Had led the town
Rarely did I think
That my father
Would want to return
But, he did over
And over until
the day he died.
And was buried
In the ancestral homeland
Next to his parents.
But for me,
The Yakima of my childhood
No longer remained
The lesson learned
From all of this
Is Yakima
Remains in my heart.
Until the day i die,
i know that my family’s
History in Yakima
Even now Yakima
The desert town
of my father’s birth
Will not be
A home for me anymore.
It remains a foreign outpost
and is not anymore for me.
Because of you, i’m in a Seattle kind of mood
Because of you,
i’m in a Seattle kind of mood
When I look out my window.
And see the raindrops gently falling all around
And i feel that special Seattle kind of chill.
In my bones,
I think of you
With a Seattle kind of mood.
In the morning
Wherever I am in this
Crazy world
If i see raindrops.
Gently falling all around
Blue mood dissolves.
In the rain’s gentle mist
And I cry out
With all my heart
Because of you
I am in
A Seattle kind of mood.
As I walk down the street
In distant foreign lands.
Whether I am in Bangkok,
Barbados, Madrid., New York, Medford, Portland,
Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo,
San Francisco, Washington, DC
Whether I am in China, India, Thailand, or Spain
Whenever i feel
The rain’s gentle embrace
I get into that Seattle kind of mood
Seattle, a Seattle kind of mood.
Fresh salmon sizzling
Over a hickory smoke fire
Ivar’s clam chowder.
And red hook ale
Pike Place Market
Bums in pioneer square.
Great Asian food
In the international district
Or in the U district.
And angry hippies
preaching in red square.
Yuppies drinking downtown
Geeks in Redmond.
Making the world safe
For the Amazon, Microsoft, Nordstrom
Starbucks, Seattle corporations.
.
And the Mariners
loose again
While the Huskies dream
Of Rose Bowls to come
and the Seahawks
Dream of a Future Superbowl.
Someday..
And everywhere
Rain falling down
Oh yeah.
A Seattle kind of mood.
Because of you
I get into
That Seattle kind of mood.
In the morning
As I fight the horrendous traffic
And breathe in deadly, killer air.
I cough, cough, and remember
The green, green air of Seattle.
And because of you,
I get into that Seattle kind of mood
Seattle, Seattle, kind of mood.
The huskies
And the Seahawks
Are always number
one in my heart
While the mariners
Are always last in the nation.
But what the hell
I’m in a Seattle kind of mood.
I sit in the international district
Eating dim sum
And drinking ballad bitter.
Watching the crowds
Dodge the ever-present raindrops
Walking the streets
under their Bumbershoots.
Seattle kind of mood.
As I wake up
Each day in crazy foreign lands
I hear the falling raindrops
calling me home.
Oh why did you leave me
They cry out
In a Seattle sort of voice.
Whispering
In the gently falling rain
Seattle, Seattle kind of mood.
And so my dear
Wherever I roam
In this wide planet of ours.
From here to entreaty
And beyond.
All the way to
The red plains of Mars
Whenever I hear
The gentle patter of raindrops.
I’ll get into that
Seattle kind of mood
And dream of
Spending eternity with you.
Watching the Seattle rain
Gently falling
On our Bumbershoots.
As we walk down
The beach hand in hand
Digging the gooey ducks.
While drinking rainier ale
All because of you
I’ll always be in
A Seattle kind of mood.
Monkeys Run Amuck in Seattle
I am a member of Earth First, based in Seattle. We decide that we will do one action per month to radically change the environment and generate publicity for our efforts and gain recruits.
After much discussion we decide to liberate all the animals being used for testing at UW medical school and in other labs in the city and to free the animals in Zoo. We would take the animals out to the woods outside of town and let them run free.
We plan our attack with great care and we strike with military precision in the middle of the night one week and liberate 5,000 animals. We release the animals and film it on U Tube. The U Tube goes viral.
The animals run free and soon establish themselves in the forests near Seattle. The Tigers and lions soon breed and become established eating deer and other animals. The monkeys move into the city and the City of Seattle soon becomes their home. The monkeys do very well, and even survive the winter.
They soon become a tourist attraction. The zoo is closed down as they can’t afford to round up the animals who have all gone native. The UW Medical school denied that they were engage in animal testing so we publish their secret research on line.
It is a great victory for Earth First. Other animal liberation actions take place across the country.
Within five years monkey troops have become established throughout the US. Lions and Tigers have also flourished eating deer and helping to keep deer populations in check. There were isolated lion and tiger attacks on humans but for the most part the lions and tigers stick to deer meat.
Other animals also flourished – Elephants take to the Central valley and most of the African animals we had released were released into the Central Valley which became known as America’s Severgetti.
The wild animals become a huge tourist attraction.
Portland, Oregon, is one of my favorite cities in the world. I first visited Portland when I was a child. My father had a summer cabin near Yakima, Washington. He was a college professor at SF State and had July and August off. We frequently drove through Portland to and from the Bay Area, where we lived in Berkeley.
Later, when I was in graduate school attending the University of Washington, we drove through Portland on the way to the Bay Area. Recently, we spent a day in Portland showing the city to my Korean brother-in-law and his niece, who were visiting us in Medford. We all fell in love with the city, which reminds me of Berkeley, San Francisco, and Seattle. This time we stayed in North Portland in the trendy Alberta neighborhood, which was the center of Black Portland for many years.
Portland is the most multicultural city in Oregon, which is still mostly white. It is the only city in Oregon with a substantial black population as well as an Asian American population. Although the city has become more expensive, it is still somewhat affordable compared to both the Bay Area and Seattle. We spent the night the previous year in Lake Oswego visiting a friend from high school. He is a musician and composer living in Portland.
This trip we toured the city and saw much of the city. We went to the Saturday market downtown and went through Old Town, Chinatown, and the Pearl District. We stopped at Powell’s’s Books, the biggest bookstore in the world. We drove to Washington Park and the Rose Garden and Japanese Garden but could not see either due to no parking as it was a Saturday. The previous year we went for a walk in Forest Park, the biggest urban park in the country. There are bears in the park, they say.
Portland is a foodie city. We had two great meals in the city. We had clam chowder and fish and chips in downtown, and we had decent Italian in Lake Oswego.
Our itinerary was as follows:
10:00 AM: Start in Portland
You can explore the city’s highlights including Washington Park12. This park is home to many of Portland’s premier attractions including a zoo, children’s museum, Japanese Garden, and the famous International Rose Test Garden1.
2:00 PM: Depart for Medford
The driving time from Portland to Medford is approximately 4 hours and 21 minutes345. The direct drive is 275
Background reading courtesy of Co-Pilot
Certainly! 🌲 Portland, Oregon is a vibrant city nestled in the Pacific Northwest, known for its unique blend of natural beauty, quirky culture, and thriving arts scene. Let’s explore some essential information about this captivating city:
Portland Chapter of The Links:
The Portland Chapter of The Links has been serving the Portland, OR, and Southwest Washington areas since 1957. Their mission is to enhance the quality of life in the African American community through friendship, service, and collaboration. They focus on various facets, including services to youth, the arts, national and international trends, and health and human services. Additionally, they provide scholarships to high school seniors who demonstrate scholastic potential and leadership ability1. You can learn more about their impactful work on their official website.
Remember, Portland is a city that celebrates individuality, sustainability, and creativity. Whether you’re into food carts, lush parks, or indie music, there’s something here for everyone. Have a great time exploring the Rose City! 🌹✨
I have been to Japan about 10 times over the years. My first visit was in 1979 when I spent the night at Narita before going to Korea the next day. I last visited in April of this year doing a tour of Fukuoka and Kyushu. I spent five weeks doing a TDY in Sapporo and spent a week in Okinawa before the covid shutdowns. I also visited Tokyo a couple of times ,traveled to Kamakura and Kyoto and Nara. I even climbed Mt. Fuji.
When I was an undergraduate, I took courses in Japanese history and while in graduate school took courses in Japanese history, and business as part of my MA in Korean studies.
I also taught Asian studies at the University of Maryland in 1991 in Korea. I even picked up a few words of basic Japanese during my travels.
If you know Korean, you can learn Japanese pretty easily and vice versa. the grammar of the two languages are very similar and many vocabulary words are derived from Chinese characters. I can read about 500 characters.
Many expats who have been in both Korea and Japan prefer one or the other. I definitely prefer Korea but i like Japan and plan on future trips there.
Here then are some of my reflections on traveling in Japan.
Kyushu
I just came back from a trip to Kyushu Japan, a mostly rural part of Japan that I had never visited. I have been to Japan about eight times since 1979. I always contrast Japan with Korea where I now live part-time and with the U.S.. we are planning to come back next spring and spend a month in Japan -two weeks in Kyushu, one week in Tokyo, a few days in Kyoto/Nara and Hokkaido but might take another mini-tour hitting other parts of Japan. There is a good tour of Osaka/Kyoto and Nara we can do in September.
Overall the tour was a b – good choices of things to do, good food, got to know a few of our fellow participants and my Korean is getting quite good enough that I can continue a conversation and have people mostly understand me and I understand most of what people say to me.
Tuesday, April 17, 2024
Our first night we stayed in the Hilton in Fukuoka. I was a bit disappointed with the hotel. Just not up to what I might expect from a Hilton chain hotel. the breakfast was substandard. The TV did not work – everything was defaulting to Japanese and we could not figure it out.
Wednesday, April 18, 2024
Our second night was better.
Had a great breakfast Japanese style 5 stars one of the best I had so much better than the Hilton
Including the plates which had several places to place your food good choice of coffee and tea but no decafe
Looking forward to today ending with a sauna
Beepo Hot Springs – privage suana facilities
one of the highlights of the trip. The hotspring hotel had private sauna facilities for several people. It was very nice.
Morning Visit to Suspension Bridge, Mt. Kumho Observatory
Tawara marshes
The staff were very helpful spoke English and were friendly. Recommend staying in Beppu for a future trip. Saw the volcanic eruptions from a safe distance. The marsh lands are interesting.
Lunch
Better than yesterday. Spoke with a nice older couple and practiced my Korean which keeps getting better
Mari Grasslands, Volcano Views
Stopped off to see the Mari grassland and the reclining Buddha mountain in the background, saw cows and skydivers, and got good pictures. Felt better after getting my coffee out fix
Stopped off at an ice cream shop and a rose garden.
Hotel in Aso city
We stayed at a hotel/ryokan. The rooms and overall ambiance was quite backward. On the plus side, it was filled with museum-quality art. The outdoor bathing area was a joke! Little more than a hot tub but without a jacuzzi and no place to wash up, no place to even store you clothes. Very substandard. We did not use it. Quite a contrast to the world-class facilities at the hotel in Beppu which we had stayed in the night before. That hotel featured private sauna rooms. Very relaxing.
They gave us a nice dinner spread including for some reason horse sashimi!
Earthquake
We were woken up by an alert on my phone and an earthquake that shook everything up. Felt as far away as Busan in Korea.
Here’s the info as of this morning
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake, measuring a weak 6 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, struck off the west coast of shikoku island on wednesday night.
There was no threat of a tsunami from the quake, which struck at 11:14 p.m., and initial reports suggested only minor injuries and damage.
The quake measured a weak 6 — the third highest level — in the Ehime prefecture town of Aina and the Kochi prefecture city of Sukuma. Striking at a depth of 39 kilometers, its epicenter was in the bungo channel, a straight separating the islands of Kyushu and shikoku.
Chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, speaking at a news conference shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday, said several light injuries had been reported. Nhl reported minor damage in some areas, including broken water pipes, fallen streetlights, and a landslide on a national roadway.
Thursday, April 19
Final day
Today will do a Fukuoka city tour, looking forward to it and returning home. We stayed in an old-fashioned ryokan but they had a nice dinner spread and great artwork – took lots of pictures while I was in the lobby waiting for the all-clear.
Aso City is a very provincial town, rural Japan at its best and worst.
Another shocking thing is the lack of translation software. It seems to me that would be widely used particularly in the tourist industry, but you would be wrong. In some ways, Japan is very backward and insular looking. It is run by old men who are out of touch with how the world is changing.
And they are just emerging from the decades of deflation, the lost years as they put it, where everyone including the US which also has its backwardness jumped forward while Japan slept.
Tokyo v Seoul
Tokyo, like seoul, is a sprawling city, hard to get a real feel for it. Seoul is in some ways a prettier city with the mountains and the river but Tokyo has its charms too.
I stayed there several times. My favorite neighborhood is Roppongi which is near the us embassy and is close to an old us army base. The neighborhood started out as an army vile, when the us pulled out of central Tokyo, the neighborhood became Tokyo’s international quarter. A similar phenomenon is occurring in seoul as Itaewon moves from being an army vil to an international district after the us army pulled out of central seoul
Getting around is pretty easy. The subway is a bit confusing but one gets used to it.
Hokkaido Sapporo
I spent five weeks there in 2003 doing a TDY. It was a great trip and I enjoyed the city. Everything is connected via tunnels underground next to the excellent subway system so one does not have to get exposed to the cold that much. It snows there from September to May. I was there in late March and it snowed every day. I found an expat bar in town and hung out there and got to know some locals. I also found a sake place near my hotel and tried different sake every night. The hotel had a choice of Japanese or American breakfast –I chose the Japanese option and enjoyed Japanese breakfast every day for five weeks.
Kamakura
I went there by train for a day trip from Tokyo and had a great time touring the impressive temple complex.
Kyoto-Nara
Went there with my friend and enjoyed it. We stopped off at a Shinto shrine which features a giant penis statue. It is a fertility temple. There is another one nearby that features giant vaginas.
Mt fuji
I climbed it. In august. It was snowing at the top. But i can say i made it.
Okinawa
Here are the poems i wrote from my trip to Okinawa along with some photos
Okinawa poems:
Okinawa war thoughts
Okinawa beckons me
Ghosts of Okinawa
Asian linguistic confusion
Okinawa aquarium thoughts
Okinawa West Coast Highway
Okinawa war thoughts
these dark moods
follow me
Asi tour Okinawa
where the last battles
of World War 11
were fought
thousands died
in the first
and last outpost
of the American
East Asian empire
Okinawa beckons me
Okinawa Japan
kept calling to me
in a dream
Notifying me
always in the background
where my memories
always waiting for me
beckons me
everywhere i go
cosmic reflections
of past lives
Never seen before
seems lost in time
Maybe just the spirits
Of the dead
everywhere
I see ghosts
Okinawa street scene
walking the streets
of fabled Naha Okinawa
a lifetime dream
someday I would visit
i am surrounded
by ghosts of the past
and Japanese beauties
all around me
tempting me
with their sweet smiles
No wonder
so many soldiers
brought back
Japanese wives
ghosts of Okinawa
ghosts of Okinawa
touring the battlefields
of Okinawa
where so many young men
gave up their life
so many years ago
i see the ghosts
all around me
feel their spirits
floating through the air
Kilroy was here
there and everywhere
whoever that was
John Dean wannabes
Elvis wannabes
and so many other wannabes
I see the ghosts
of the fallen heroes
all around me
Asian Street Signs
Everywhere in Asia
you see strange variations
of English
Japlish,Konglish,Singlish
the street signs in Okinawa
are all in Chinese, Japanese,
English and Koreans
the bus and train
announcements as well
hard to get lost
even when you want to
but the random encounters
with English words
puts a smile on my face
as i drink my “boss coffee”
wondering who the “boss” is
and why is smoking a pipe?
And many years ago
i saw on a menu
at the old Gimpo airport
baked Rick
and in Korean
grocery stores
one can find
corn flights
i look forward
to many more years
of linguistic confusion
as I travel about Asia
Visit to Okinawa aquarium
whenever I visit an aquarium,
zoo or Wildlife park
I am reminded of a prison
the prison is filled with animals
who amuse us.
I am sure that the animals
hate us humans
who are watching them
do their animal thing
but looking into their eyes
the eyes of the sea turtles
swimming back and forth
in their prison cell
in the Okinawa aquarium
filled with hatred
for the humans
who had imprisoned them
and hunt their kind
and don’t get me started
on the dolphins and killer whales
who preform acrobatic feats
for their daily meals
and the sharks
the king of the ocean killers
they too
if they could
they surely would
escape
their prison cell
screaming
death to all humans
as they flee
back into the ocean’s depths
Okinawa West Coast road
Riding down
the West Coast road
of Okinawa
echoes of other beach roads
fill my head with memories
i am reminded of Hawaii
and driving along the Oregon coast
East Coast beach towns as well
and Barbados
and the Caribbean islands
all the roads
are lined with tourist resorts
beach views and restaurants
all very similar
yet different
and as the beach towns
fade away
behind us on the bus
my memories
of all the other beach towns
i have visited
note: submitted to Rogue Valley Times for possible publication
audio clip
poem version
Wagontire Oregon 1973
In 1973, I embarked on a road trip with my father. We left Berkeley, heading toward Yakima, where my father owned a summer cabin. As a college professor, he enjoyed the luxury of July and August off, and our dysfunctional family spent those summers together in the mountain cabin from 1968 to 1978. Our annual pilgrimage was both a trip to hell and a journey back.
My father and I shared a wanderlust—a love for exploring new places. This trip turned out to be one of our best. Surprisingly, we got along, which was unusual given our typically tense relationship. We were vastly different, but during this journey, we became friends..
We drove east along Highway 395, entering the high mountain desert of eastern Oregon. The road stretched ahead, almost deserted. Then we saw the sign: Wagontire, Oregon, 100 miles ahead. We counted down the signs, mile after mile, as dusk settled around us. We speculated Wagontire must be a giant truck stop—an oasis in the middle of nowhere.
Interspersed with the Wagontire signs were Burma Shave signs. Highway 395 was one of the last highways to still have these signs, which had been phased out in most places by 1966 or so.
Burma shave signs were written in rhyming couplets or quatrains cowboy poetry style, ending with the tag line Burma Shave. Here are two examples:
“Shaving brushes
You’ll soon see ’em
On a shelf
In some museum
Burma-Shave”
“Within this vale
of toil
and sin
your head grows bald
but not your chin–use
Burma-Shave”
We counted down the miles until at last we pulled into town. But when we pulled into town, reality struck. There was nothing but a gas station, a motel, and a cafe. Last gas for 100 miles, according to the highway sign. I chatted with the owner, who was the sheriff, fire chief, and owner of the only business in town. The sign outside read: “Welcome to Wagontire, Oregon. Population: 200,000 sheep, 10 dogs, two and one half humans..”
Curiously, I asked who was the half-human, and the sheriff replied, “My idiot son.”
I did not know it, but this was my last big solo road trip with my father. We drove to and from the cabin a few more times, last time in 1984, but this trip was special and one I will always remember. Mainly because my dad and I finally became “friends” during this trip and got along great. Unfortunately, that moment did not last, and we soon re-entered our difficult relationship, but during that trip, we got along famously.
2016 Revisiting Wagontire
Fast forward to 2016. My wife and I drove through eastern Oregon as part of an epic cross-country trip—31 states, 100,000 miles in three months to celebrate my retirement from 27 years of serving the country in the U.S. Foreign Service working overseas in 10 countries. We thought it was time to see America.
We followed Highway 395, revisiting the memories of my trip with my father 40 years earlier. But Wagontire had changed. The signs were gone, the motel abandoned, and the town reduced to ruins—a ghost town.
As we reflected on Wagontire and other “nothing burgs,” we pondered the heart of Trump’s forgotten America—the flyover country that often escapes our attention.
Reflections on my visit to Wagontire, Oregon, in 1973 and 2016.
He was a college professor
And had July and August off
And we spent our summers,
Every summer from 68 to 78
In that mountain cabin,
and hanging with my Uncle
who had inherited the family
apple farm in Yakima.
Our whole dysfunctional family
Our annual trip
to hell and back
And we did not
get along at all.
We decided to drive
through Eastern Oregon
Just my Father and me.
Just for the hell of it
The rest of the family
was already there,
My father and I shared a travel lust
Loved to go to new places
One of the few things we shared.
This was one of our best trips
We actually got along
Which was unusual.
Normally our relationship
Was fraught with tension
As we were so different.
We left Klamath Falls
A real noting burg in those days
And headed east along Highway 395.
As we entered the
desert of Eastern Oregon
America’s Outback lands
We entered a different world
High mountain desert
Almost no one on the road
Then we saw the signs
Wagontire Oregon
100 miles ahead
99 miles
98 miles
intersperse with the signs
were Burma Shave signs
one of the last highways
to have these cowboy poetry
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Just a few examples
for those who have never
seen these lost Americana signs
common from 1915 to 1975
Shaving brushes
You’ll soon see ’em
On a shelf
In some museum
Burma-Shave
Within this vale
of toil
and sin
your head grows bald
but not your chin – use
Burma-Shave
We counted down the signs
Mile after mile
Wagontire
Burma shave add
Wagontire
Burma Shave
every mile
counting down
.
As we drove
into the gathering dusk,
We speculated that Wagontire
Must be a giant truck stop
An oasis in the desert
In the middle of nowhere,
We pulled into town
Nothing but a gas station
Motel and cafe
We stopped
Last gas for 100 miles
According to the highway sign
In the morning
We chatted with the owner.
He was the sheriff, fire chief
rancher and Owner
of the motel gas station.
The only business in town
And the only place open
For one hundred miles.
I noticed a sign outside
“Welcome to Wagontire, Oregon
Population 200,000 sheep.
and two and one half-humans.”
I asked the sheriff
“Who is the half-human?”
He said,
“My idiot son.”
And we left
200 miles
We finally
left Eastern Oregon.
2016
In 2016, my wife
and I drove
through Eastern Oregon.
As part of our epic
Cross-country trip
to celebrate my retirement
from the U.S. Foreign Service.
31 states
10,0000 miles
in three months.
On the way
from Medford, Oregon
to Yellowstone,
We drove along
Highway 395,
40 years since
my trip with my father.
The signs for
Wagontire were gone
as were the Burma Shave signs.
As we drove through the town
The motel was abandoned
Nothing there at all.
The motel was in ruins
Just another ghost town.
And that sign was gone too
Just a small sign saying,
Wagontire, Oregon.
We speculated about wagon tire
And all the other nothing burgs
We drove through that summer.
Heart of Trump’s
Forgotten America
Fly over country.
background info on Burma Shave commercials by Microsoft Co-Pilot
Certainly! Burma-Shave was an American brand of brushless shaving cream, but it became even more famous for its unique advertising campaign. Let me share some interesting details and a few delightful Burma Shave poems with you:
History of Burma-Shave:
Introduced in 1925by the Burma-Vita company in Minneapolis, it was initially known for a liniment made from ingredients sourced from the Malay Peninsula and Burma.
Seeking wider appeal, they launched the Burma-Shavebrand of brushless shaving cream along with a clever advertising program.
At its peak, Burma-Shavewas the second-highest-selling brushless shaving cream in the US.
Unfortunately, sales declined in the 1950s, and in 1963, the company was sold to Philip Morris. The iconic roadside signs were removed at that time.
These witty and memorable poems left a lasting cultural impact, reminding us of a bygone era when highways were dotted with clever signs and a touch of humor. 🚗🌟
Background Info on Wagontire Oregon from Microsoft Co-Pilot
Wagontire, an unincorporated community in Harney County, Oregon, lies along U.S. Route 395. The name itself is intriguing—it conjures images of a remote outpost in the vast Oregon landscape.
Here are some fascinating details about Wagontire:
Origin of the Name:
The community was named after the nearby Wagontire Mountain.
Despite its modest size, the name carries a sense of adventure and history.
Historical Context:
In the late 1970s, Wagontirewas home to just two people: William and Olgie Warner.
The Warners owned a property that included a gas station, café, motel, general store, and an RV park.
Across the road from these buildings was Wagontire Airport, where planes would taxi across the highway and refuel at the gas station.
The signs outside humorously declared: “Welcome to Wagontire, Oregon. Population: 2½ humans, 10 dogs, 200,000 sheep.”
Changing Times:
Fast forward to 2016, and Wagontirehad transformed.
The signs were gone, the motel abandoned, and the town reduced to ruins—a ghost town.
It became a symbol of the heart of forgotten America, the flyover country often overlooked by travelers.
Education:
Wagontire falls within Suntec School District 10(Suntec School, grades K-8) and Harney County Union High School District 1J (Crane Union High School).
Wagontire—a place where time stood still, where echoes of the past whisper across the desert landscape. 🌵🚗
1: Geographic Names Information System 2: United States Topographic Map 3: Moyer, Armond; Moyer, Winifred (1958). The Origins of Unusual Place-Names. Keystone Pub. Associates, p. 137. 4: Monroe, Bill (December 14, 1997). “Under the Desert Sky: Solitude for Sale.” The Oregonian. : Weber, first (July 11, 1993). “Everyone Stops At Wagontire (Pop. 2).” The New York Times. : Frazier, Joseph B. (April 2, 2000). “Life Takes on a Slow Pace in Wagontire.” Albany Democrat-Herald.
Last weekend, I finally hiked Hobart’s Ridge near Ashland, Oregon. Hobart’s Ridge is about a 30-minute drive from downtown Ashland. It is part of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument near Hyatt Lake. The trailhead is off Soda Mountain Road near Hyatt Lake, and Green Springs. There is an information center for the monument on Soda Road just past the turnoff for Hobart’s Ridge at the Green Springs Inn. As you drive down the road, you turn to the right and go down a dirt, gravel road through some private housing areas with no hunting/fishing/hiking signs. You will find the trailhead about two miles in.
The trail is part of the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail is a short three-mile loop trail to the top of Hobart’s Ridge and back. Up at the top, you have some fantastic views of Southern Oregon, including Mt Shasta, Mt McLaughlin, Hyatt Lake, and Ashland. Some of the best views in the region.
First Attempt 2016 – Encounter with Mad Mountain Man
I first tried to hike up Hobart’s Ridge in 2019. My wife and I had decided that we were going to go for a hike, and we were following the directions of an old friend of mine, whom I had known almost my entire life, since first grade, almost 65 years ago.
When we got near the trailhead, we found there was nobody there, as it was the middle of the week in early June. We have been talking about mountain lions and bears and other critters. And then we saw on the side of the road an old mountain man, with thick hair and beard. He had a lunatic’s thousand-yard stare and glared at us. He was walking with a shovel., and backpack. We were freaked out. We thought he might be an axe murderer or something, and we aborted our trip.
Finally Made it in 2024
It took another five years before I could get back up there, this time with the same friend who had originally recommended the trail. And we had a fun time. We ran into several other hikers and their dogs, but did not encounter the mountain man, coy dogs, or mountain lions, but did see some friendly deer.
The trail was nice. Delightful weather, great views, great wildflowers, and had a delightful picnic lunch at the top. I’m glad I finally made it up to the top of Hobart’s Ridge. At my age, (68) still being able to hike up a mountain is a great accomplishment.
Here’s a story I wrote after my first attempted hike to Hobart’s Ridge.
The Mad Bag Piper of Hobart’s Ridge
Joe Lewis was hiking the Pacific Crest Trail as part of his bucket list. He was 70 years old and figured this was the last chance he would have to take such an epic trip He had started in Southern California in May, and it was now August. He was three-quarters through the trip. He stopped off in the town of Ashland, Oregon to take a few days off the trail and recuperate before he pushed on. One night, after seeing a Shakespeare play, he had gone to a bar where he met some locals and told them where he was going.
“Well, you need to be careful as you hike the trails near here. There is a mad bag piper who haunts the mountains near here. On full moon nights, he appears and accosts hikers, challenging them to a drinking contest, saying that if .you could out drink him, he will let you live, but if he out drank you, he would have to kill you, because he was a soul hunter and had a contract with the Grim Reaper to keep.
Whatever you do, don’t take the bet. The mad bagpiper is not a human being. Nobody knows who he is, what he is. All we know hikers disappear every full moon. And on those nights you can hear the bagpiper, walking in the woods near Hyatt Lake. He is usually described as a tall mountain man with a long beard, carrying a backpack, and his bagpipes. “
Joe dismissed the warnings as a silly urban legend. Late on the next day, he set up camp near the top of Hobart’s ridge and was enjoying his dinner, a beer and the epic sunset, when he heard a bagpiper and saw an old mountain man coming up the trail.
“What brings you to my woods, my friend?.”
“ Just passing through.”
“Tell you want. Let’s play a game. If you can out-drink me, I will not only let you live but take you a buried treasure left over from the gold rush times. What do you say, Joe Lewis? Do we have a deal?”
“How do you know my name?”
“I know everything about you. Let’s drink”
The mountain pulled out a bottle of Mount Gay Rum, Joe’s favorite drink, back in the day when he worked as a diplomat for the U.S. and had served in Barbados.
They started drinking and at about dawn the old man said,
“Joe, I like you, so I will let you live.”
Some hikers found later that day found Joe’s dead body, half-eaten by coy dogs. The mad bagpiper was long gone.
The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is an extraordinary ecological gem nestled at the intersection of the Cascade, Klamath, and Siskiyou mountain ranges. Let’s explore its fascinating features:
Location: The monument spans 114,000 acres (approximately 46,134 hectares) of lush forests and grasslands.
Ecological Marvel: This convergence of three distinct mountain ranges has created an area of unparalleled biological diversity and a varied landscape.
Establishment: Recognizing its exceptional ecology and diverse range of resources—biological, geological, aquatic, archeological, and historic—the monument was established in 2000.
Wildlife: Within the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, you’ll encounter a rich variety of animals, including deer, bears, mountain lions, small mammals, and songbirds. Birdwatchers are drawn to the presence of eagles and other raptors.
Activities: Visitors can engage in hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing, hunting, scenic drives, skiing, snowmobiling, and sledding.
Elevation Range: The elevation within the monument varies from 2,100 to 6,100 feet.
Location: Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, near Ashland, Oregon
Trail Length: Approximately 2.5 miles (out-and-back)
Elevation Gain: 413 feet
Difficulty: Moderately challenging
Estimated Completion Time: Around 1 hour and 9 minutes
Best Times to Visit: May through November
Activities: Bird watching, hiking, and running
Views: From the top, enjoy stunning vistas of Ashland, Pilot Rock, and Mt. McLoughlin.
Trail Description: The trail starts off moderately flat and gradually ascends. The last half-mile becomes steeper, but the panoramic valley views make it worthwhile. You’ll encounter wildflowers and may spot various bird species along the way. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash. The trail is usually snow-free from late May to October.
To reach Hobart Bluff from Ashland:
Head east on Highway 66.
Look for the Hobart Bluff Trailhead near the highway.
Park your vehicle and begin your hike
Certainly! A Coydog is a fascinating hybrid resulting from the mating of a male coyote and a female domestic dog. Let’s explore some interesting facts about these unique canids:
Hybrid Origins:
A Coydog is the product of a coyote (Canis latrans) and a domestic dog (Canis lupus familiars).
These two canids belong to different species, making the Coydog a canid hybrid.
Crossbreeding between coyotes and dogs has occurred for so long that the exact percentages of wild hybrids remain unknown.
Characteristics:
Coydogs exhibit a mixture of traits inherited from both parents.
Their appearance and behavior can vary widely due to this genetic blend.
The exact proportions of coyote and dog characteristics are unpredictable.
Fertility and Breeding:
Hybrids of both sexes are fertile and can be successfully bred for up to four generations.
Similarly, a hybrid with a dog father and a coyote mother is known as a dogote.
Temperament and Care:
Coydogs can be challenging to handle, as they require a lot of affection and care.
Their temperament is akin to that of a child.
Due to the limited breeding season of coyotes, Coydogs are relatively rare.
Habitat and Occurrence:
Coydogs occur in the wild where the number of other coyotes is scarce.
In areas with fewer potential mates, they may mingle with domesticated dogs for companionship or breeding.
Byukchoji garden is a wonderful, beautiful botanical garden located in Paju County north of Seoul and not too far from the DMZ. It spans over 130,000 square meters and has a mixture of Eastern and western themed gardens divided into six thematic areas – Sensational, Mythical, Mindful, Breathtaking, Adventurous, and Freedom. There is a decent coffee shop, bakery and restaurant on site. There is also a nice art gallery showing pictures of famous botanical gardens from around the world and photos of the gardens taken by visitors.
There is also a garden shop with flowers and plants for sale. At the entrance gate, be sure to pick up the useful bilingual (Korean and English) guide map. It takes about an hour to walk around and truly appreciate the gardens. There is a very nice lotus pound in the center–the lotus flowers are in bloom in mid to late summer. The park is especially pretty in the Spring and Fall season.
Transportation options
To visit Byukchoji Garden from Seoul, you have several transportation options:
Note: to get there from Camp Humphreys take the GTX train from Pyeongtaek station, get off at Yongsan Station, got to Seoul station, then either take the subway or bus. The total trip should take about two hours. The park entry closes at 6 pm. The cost is quite modest, about 9,000 won (US$ 7) per person.
To get to First Garden using public transportation, you can follow these steps:
From Camp Humphreys take the GTX line from Pyeongtaek station to Yongsan Station, then take the subway to Seoul station, take the Airport Express train one stop to Bangkok station then the Gyeongi Jungang subway and get off at Unjeong station and take either the bus or taxi. Total travel time is about two hours. The park is open until 9 pm seven days a week and has several restaurant options on site.
Subway: Take the Gyeongi Jungang subway line and get off at Unjeong Station.
Alternatively, taking a taxi from Unjeong Station to First Garden is also a convenient option, especially if you’re traveling in a group of 3-4 people. The taxi fare is approximately 10,000 won1.
The cost is also 9,000 won or US$7).
For more information, see the following:
The Paju Byukchoji Gardens, also known as The Botanical Garden BCJ, is one of the famous breathtaking tourist attractions in South Korea, which was founded in 1965. This garden is located in the village of Changman-ri in Paju’s Gwangtan Township. The BCJ Gardens is spread over a vast 130,000 square meters with the polyphony of Eastern Gardens and Western Gardens as its main theme. This is also one of the K-Dreamland staples.
Apart from that, the Garden is sorted into 6 amazing themes: Sensational, Mythical, Mindful, Breathtaking, Adventurous, and Freedom. As the name suggests, each themed portion of the Garden gives you a blissful experience.
Sensational Tour
The Sensational part of the garden greets you first as soon as you enter the BCJ Botanical Garden. This part of the garden has the majestic Queen’s Garden, which is surrounded by Wildflowers, potted herbs, and shrubs that look dramatically beautiful. The pine tree-lined grove is also a beautiful display to savor your eyes.
Mythical Tour
As you go through the tree-lined lane, you will find the Mythical area that is enclosed in Marley Castle’s gilded gates of Paju Byukchoji Gardens. This area covers some of the ancient sculpture gardens of Greece and Italy. Also, you can find a few sculptures that are done in honor of the Greek God Apollo and Italian artist Michaelangelo.
Mindful Tour
Then comes the Mindful-themed area, which is mostly covered by green natural forested paths, you will also find a nicely constructed wooden bridge over a pond which is one of the attractions of this area. The most captivating thing is the Waterfall in this area, which will comfort your eyes and release the tension from your body with its enchanting presence.
Breathtaking Tour
Right after the Waterfall comes to the Breathtaking area, and as the name suggests, it is truly a breathtaking sight. The wooden walkway on the Byukchoji Pond is just an amazing scene and bridge to walk upon, with many flowers in the pond. Needless to say, this is the pinnacle of BCJ Gardens.
Adventurous Tour
The Adventurous area is quite an adventure for kids, as it mainly consists of a birch forest playground and other things which attract kids to play in; other than that, there isn’t much to explore here.
Freedom Tour
Moving on to the final themed area Freedom. This part of the garden is filled with flower-covered arches, grassy fields, and a road completely dedicated to the harmonious reunification of North and South Korea.
European and Asian-style gardens are the main attraction that brings people from various parts to have a look and enjoy the moment. The main highlight of these gardens is that it is good for kids and also for the people around the place to spend a good day with their loved ones. They also provide Wheelchair accessibility at the entrance for the disabled, which is a plus point.
Timings and Entry Fee
The Paju Byukchoji Gardens is open every day from 9 am-7 pm. To enjoy this beautiful garden at a slow pace, you need at least 3hrs, so make sure you are on time. And the tourists who arrive after 6 pm are basically out of luck as the ticket sales close at 6 pm. The adult ticket is 9.500 KRW.
European and Asian-style gardens are the main attraction that brings people from various parts to have a look and enjoy the moment. The main highlight of these gardens is that it is good for kids and also for the people around the place to spend a good day with their loved ones. They also provide Wheelchair accessibility at the entrance for the disabled, which is a plus point.
Timings and Entry Fee
The Paju Byukchoji Gardens is open every day from 9 am-7 pm. To enjoy this beautiful garden at a slow pace, you need at least 3hrs, so make sure you are on time. And the tourists who arrive after 6 pm are basically out of luck as the ticket sales close at 6 pm. The adult ticket is 9.500 KRW.
My thoughts on the dismal state of Baseball and what can be done to bring it back. I sent this letter off to MLB, but they never responded. Their lost.
Letter to MLB
Commissioner
Baseball is in crisis. Its long-term viability as America’s pastime is in serious question as fewer people, especially younger viewers, are baseball fans. It is sad to say that more people watch soccer, and even cricket in the U.S. than watch baseball. The solution is for MLB to take bold steps to restore baseball as America’s pastime if not the world’s pastime.
Here’s my proposal to turn MLB around. It requires bold action, and considerable investment of time and resources to grow the sport.
There are four basic elements to my proposal.
Expand the Number of Teams
First, a dramatic expansion of baseball so that there are major league team teams in every state in the US, every province in Canada, and Mexico, and in Cuba, the DR, Nicaragua, USVI, and Venezuela. That would mean expanding the number of teams to 70 teams from the 35 teams that exist today.
I would add expansion teams to the following metro areas
Austin
Charlotte
Columbus
El Paso
Indianapolis
Louisville
Memphis
Nashville
Jacksonville
Sacramento
San Jose
San Antonio
as well as teams in Canada, the Caribbean, and Mexico.
Followed by an Asian Baseball league and a European Baseball league, with 70 teams each.
This would not be as difficult to accomplish as you might first think. First, you would convert minor league teams into major league teams. You would make sure that there is a major league team in each state in the U.S., each Canadian province, each Mexican State, and in the baseball-playing countries of the Caribbean, Asia, and Europe as well, making it a real-world sport.
Each team would play mostly in its region which will be as follows:
Northwest League
Southwest League
Southeast League
Northeast League
Central League
Africa League
And Caribbean/Mexican League
Asia League
European League
This would make it more affordable for teams to travel as they would mostly be playing against teams in their region.
The leagues would be adjusted a bit to ensure that they are all about the same number of teams.
And there would be intense regional rivals for example in the Bay Area there would be regular games between SF and Oakland.
There would also be expansion to ensure that all major markets have a team. For example. in California, we would add a team in Sacramento and San Jose. And we would add a team in Las Vegas, and Portland.
At the end of the season, the North American champion would be crowned and that champion would advance to the real-World Series, which will be a world cup format with 64 national teams (the national champions) competing with the four final games played in the U.S. which will remain as the spiritual home of baseball.
Second, each team would adopt a local school district and local college.
To grow baseball’s future fan base, each team would adopt a local school district and local college, fully funding baseball programs in the local school and college, including scholarships for talented students to go to college.
This would also involve players and team officials serving as coaches and advisors in the local schools, helping them develop and expand their baseball programs.
Only Allow College Graduates to Play
MLB would also recruit for their teams from the local colleges that they sponsor. And MLB would also only accept players athletes who have finished their college programs with a degree setting an example to the other major sports franchises that MLB values education and wants to ensure that their athletes finish their education before beginning their professional sporting careers.
I think that the NFL and NBA should follow suit. It is disgusting that major league sports take student athletes before they graduate and then after a few years spit them out without them having had a chance to earn their degrees.
So MBA should step up to the plate and say,
If you want to play in the majors, you must finish your degree before your first game, or within one year or we will cut you from playing. That would help the student-athletes, and well be the right thing to do.
Third, each team would guarantee that a certain percentage of their tickets would be affordable.
Attending a major sports event costs too much money. To grow the fan base. Each team would sell half-price tickets on game day and one hour before the game sell the remaining tickets for five dollars, thus making baseball affordable to everyone. And they would treat the families of their school programs and college programs to free baseball games. And they would also each week sponsor free tickets for those in need – people living in shelters, people living with chronic illnesses, etc.
Broadcast the Games for free everywhere
greatly expands broadcasting so that the games are available worldwide for free.
Fourth the World Series would be replaced by a world cup format.
All countries that play baseball would be invited to participate in the World Cup of Baseball. At the end of the season in October the national teams from at least 64 countries would play in the world cup which will be held every fourth year. The US will host the first World Cup, and then sponsorship will rotate around all the participating countries so all 64 countries will eventually get to host a World Cup of baseball. the winner of each national championship would represent their country in the real-world series.
If the MLB were to take these steps they would dramatically turn the sport around.
Thank you for taking the time to read my proposal. I look forward to hearing back from your staff and I hope that you can implement some of my ideas I hope that MLB will continue to expand and prosper.
I received a copy of Waide Riddle’s The Power of Summer as a reward for participating in the Poetry Superhighway’s Annual poetry contest. I also received a copy of his Children’s Horror story
Wiade is a writer who was living in LA when he wrote these poems a few years ago. They are evocative to look at summer in Southern California. I am from Northern California and Summers in the Bay Area, especially in San Francisco, San Mateo, and the East Bay are cool if not cold most of the summer with the fog burning off by late afternoon when I may get to the low 80s (26 C) F but mostly hits the 70’s. F (20 C), inland a bit, it can get hot by late afternoon, sometimes reaching over 100 degrees (37 C) Southern California can get a lot hotter, particularly inland as it is after all almost a desert.
Comments on each of these poems
Groove
This poem is about the power of music in a dance hall nightclub, where it can sweep you away if you feel the groove. I like the line,
“stay away from the hates, negatives, and dirges.
Ain’t no room for that sh*t here”
Summer in Santa Monica
My favorite poem is about a neighborhood if I had to live in LA I would live in.
Like these lines
“Santa Monica Blvd is like a catwalk with the hottest bodies in L.A.
Damn! Damn! Damn!
Bodies are so Fine! Tan Skin Shines!”
The Tom Hardy Party
The Tom Hardy poem is a poem about a friend who threw the hottest parties in LA. I love these lines
You’re invited to the Tom Hardy Party!
the coolest and baddest party in L.A.
Show your sickest, baddest, sexiest, and hottest movies
…..
Attitude
that’s it
You Got It”
Kiss Me, Chris Pine
a tribute to a gay lover
best lines
thank you for the way you make me feel
You make the girls’ eyes flutter and the gay boys stutter
You make the girls go “My, oh My” and the gay guys sigh
Kiss me, Chris Pine
Dance to the Beat of the Beach Boys
A nice tribute to the enduring popularity of the ultimate Southern California band, the Beach Boys
another ode to the LA Vibe, but not particularly summer, just LA in general
Best line
“That’s L.A. the A..blue-high. What a vibe.
Once it hooks out, you’re part of the blue.”
Take Me Home to Venice Beach
Another place I would live in if I lived in LA. I recall my few visits fondly, love the fake canals and the whole body-building scene on the beach and boardwalk.
Favorite lines:
“The Smell of Sage and incense are comforting on the Boardwalk
The chants of Peace and Love give the world a chance
The Chill vibe, the afternoon breeze against the crashing surf
Take me home to Venice Beach”
An Ode to a Summer’s Song
a final ode to the summer at the end of summer
best lines:
“Monday, Monday, brings a close to the summer
what a bummer”
Waide Riddle Bio notes
Waide Riddle is a poet, screenwriter who lives in LA. These poems were written during the COVID lockdown, recalling the summers of LA before and after the lockdowns.
The cities of Culver City, Santa Monica, Venice, West Hollywood, Hollywood, Studio City, Silver Lake, and Los Feliz were the inspiration.
Amazon review of the Power of Summer
Waide Riddle, screenwriter, editorial columnist, and rather lovely chippie has written a book of poems…”The Power of Summer.”
It’s a selection of nine poems, all summer-themed and blissfully, cheerfully rhythmic. Anthemic chants brimming with musicality and the fever of summer potential. Oh, how these lyrical grooves make me long for the beach. They reek of rum cocktails, suntan lotion, and the scent of tanning skin. Sticky ice cream hands, sandy toes, and wafts of beery breath and sea salt drying on red-tinged shoulders.
The poems are packed with hopefulness, something we dearly need right now. They remind us of a time when our only worry was finding somewhere to rinse off before we left the beach for the pub. Or where we left the car, or whether our friends would make it in time for high tide. In the UK, where I am from, summer was always a glittering horizon during the many many gloomy months of rain and bitter cold. I grew up near the coast and spent many days on beaches both sandy and pebbled, the salty Atlantic air is like the breath of god to me. So ready these poems of Waide’s, with his own deeply personal and love-packed memories, although quite different to my own, brought back so many similar love-packed days of old. Full of laughter, games, sunburn, and even a few tears. But truly wonderful.
They sing of the page, these melodic chants. Where’s the booming bass? The spiraling guitars? The swaying bodies. Poetry doesn’t have to be stuffy you know. Poetry can move us in so many ways, uplift, invigorate, empower. These poems, “Groove,” “Summer in Santa Monica,” “The Tom Hardy Party,” “Kiss Me Chris Pine” and many more are achingly LA. Like a Hockney swimming pool, all glamorous, sultry, and bold. If we ever get back to the beach again, with our lilts and magazines and flip-flops flapping we should chant our favorite of these collected poems like a prayer into the Pacific Ocean air, in gratitude for our lives…more, please!!!
You can find Waide’s poems and much more of his work on his Amazon page
Snow swirled and spun. Falling from the gray December sky. High above the Denver skyline. Winter has its calm… floating white powder… a white Heaven. The crystals gently tickle… they pass my nose… frozen on my overcoat. Washington Park. Under the gray-white. The pines with ice-coated bark, and a light blue radiant tint hits it just right. The cold holds charm, a billowing breeze, the crackling of ice-covered trees. Fresh powdered snow. The gusts dust me with the frozen glitter. The snow falls more heavily from above… He sits next to me on the park bench. With no words, he hints. His gloved hand holds mine. Time means nothing… He is my Love. He whispers the most beautiful words, ever so quietly, into my ear. I listen. I hear his Love. His head rests on my shoulder. It’s suddenly warmer than colder. The bow of his neck is smooth… I love that part of him. The short trim of his mussed hair. The hint of the scent of Cool Water lends to this moment. He is my Love. From the gray, white, and blue… blankets cover the park in brilliant white and blue hues. Washington Park. With my Love… my muse1
The Maid of Orleans:
As I gazed at the flames of the fire my heart, with all there that day, broke – such strength could not help but inspire.
The Maid of Orleans, a warrior spoke, her voice, a clarion call to arms, her courage, a light that never broke.
She led the charge, she fought the harm, she stood for France, she stood for God, and she stood for all that was right and calm.
And when the English, with their rod, did burn her at the stake, she smiled, for she knew she had done what was good.
Review Of Waide Riddle’s The Chocolate Man A Children’s Horror Story
A powerful and gripping tale of old-fashioned evil monsters that terrorized a town in New York at the turn of the 20th century. The Monster kills children and turns them into chocolate treats he then treats other children and adults with. The townspeople eventually defeat him, locking him up in his mansion, where he vows he will come again someday.
The story was written in a series of free-verse stanzas that drive the story forward to its horrific ending.
I received a copy of Waide Riddle’s The Power of Summer as a reward for participating in the Poetry Superhighway’s Annual poetry contest. I also received a copy of his Children’s Horror story
Wiade is a writer who was living in LA when he wrote these poems a few years ago. They are evocative to look at summer in Southern California. I am from Northern California and Summers in the Bay Area, especially in San Francisco, San Mateo, and the East Bay are cool if not cold most of the summer with the fog burning off by late afternoon when I may get to the low 80s (26 C) F but mostly hits the 70’s. F (20 C), inland a bit, it can get hot by late afternoon, sometimes reaching over 100 degrees (37 C) Southern California can get a lot hotter, particularly inland as it is after all almost a desert.
Comments on each of these poems
Groove
This poem is about the power of music in a dance hall nightclub, where it can sweep you away if you feel the groove. I like the line,
“stay away from the hates, negatives, and dirges.
Ain’t no room for that sh*t here”
Summer in Santa Monica
My favorite poem is about a neighborhood if I had to live in LA I would live in.
Like these lines
“Santa Monica Blvd is like a catwalk with the hottest bodies in L.A.
Damn! Damn! Damn!
Bodies are so Fine! Tan Skin Shines!”
The Tom Hardy Party
The Tom Hardy poem is a poem about a friend who threw the hottest parties in LA. I love these lines
You’re invited to the Tom Hardy Party!
the coolest and baddest party in L.A.
Show your sickest, baddest, sexiest, and hottest movies
…..
Attitude
that’s it
You Got It”
Kiss Me, Chris Pine
a tribute to a gay lover
best lines
thank you for the way you make me feel
You make the girls’ eyes flutter and the gay boys stutter
You make the girls go “My, oh My” and the gay guys sigh
Kiss me, Chris Pine
Dance to the Beat of the Beach Boys
A nice tribute to the enduring popularity of the ultimate Southern California band, the Beach Boys
another ode to the LA Vibe, but not particularly summer, just LA in general
Best line
“That’s L.A. the A..blue-high. What a vibe.
Once it hooks out, you’re part of the blue.”
Take Me Home to Venice Beach
Another place I would live in if I lived in LA. I recall my few visits fondly, love the fake canals and the whole body-building scene on the beach and boardwalk.
Favorite lines:
“The Smell of Sage and incense are comforting on the Boardwalk
The chants of Peace and Love give the world a chance
The Chill vibe, the afternoon breeze against the crashing surf
Take me home to Venice Beach”
An Ode to a Summer’s Song
a final ode to the summer at the end of summer
best lines:
“Monday, Monday, brings a close to the summer
what a bummer”
Waide Riddle Bio notes
Waide Riddle is a poet, screenwriter who lives in LA. These poems were written during the COVID lockdown, recalling the summers of LA before and after the lockdowns.
The cities of Culver City, Santa Monica, Venice, West Hollywood, Hollywood, Studio City, Silver Lake, and Los Feliz were the inspiration.
Amazon review of the Power of Summer
Waide Riddle, screenwriter, editorial columnist, and rather lovely chippie has written a book of poems…”The Power of Summer.”
It’s a selection of nine poems, all summer-themed and blissfully, cheerfully rhythmic. Anthemic chants brimming with musicality and the fever of summer potential. Oh, how these lyrical grooves make me long for the beach. They reek of rum cocktails, suntan lotion, and the scent of tanning skin. Sticky ice cream hands, sandy toes, and wafts of beery breath and sea salt drying on red-tinged shoulders.
The poems are packed with hopefulness, something we dearly need right now. They remind us of a time when our only worry was finding somewhere to rinse off before we left the beach for the pub. Or where we left the car, or whether our friends would make it in time for high tide. In the UK, where I am from, summer was always a glittering horizon during the many many gloomy months of rain and bitter cold. I grew up near the coast and spent many days on beaches both sandy and pebbled, the salty Atlantic air is like the breath of god to me. So ready these poems of Waide’s, with his own deeply personal and love-packed memories, although quite different to my own, brought back so many similar love-packed days of old. Full of laughter, games, sunburn, and even a few tears. But truly wonderful.
They sing of the page, these melodic chants. Where’s the booming bass? The spiraling guitars? The swaying bodies. Poetry doesn’t have to be stuffy you know. Poetry can move us in so many ways, uplift, invigorate, empower. These poems, “Groove,” “Summer in Santa Monica,” “The Tom Hardy Party,” “Kiss Me Chris Pine” and many more are achingly LA. Like a Hockney swimming pool, all glamorous, sultry, and bold. If we ever get back to the beach again, with our lilts and magazines and flip-flops flapping we should chant our favorite of these collected poems like a prayer into the Pacific Ocean air, in gratitude for our lives…more, please!!!
You can find Waide’s poems and much more of his work on his Amazon page
Snow swirled and spun. Falling from the gray December sky. High above the Denver skyline. Winter has its calm… floating white powder… a white Heaven. The crystals gently tickle… they pass my nose… frozen on my overcoat. Washington Park. Under the gray-white. The pines with ice-coated bark, and a light blue radiant tint hits it just right. The cold holds charm, a billowing breeze, the crackling of ice-covered trees. Fresh powdered snow. The gusts dust me with the frozen glitter. The snow falls more heavily from above… He sits next to me on the park bench. With no words, he hints. His gloved hand holds mine. Time means nothing… He is my Love. He whispers the most beautiful words, ever so quietly, into my ear. I listen. I hear his Love. His head rests on my shoulder. It’s suddenly warmer than colder. The bow of his neck is smooth… I love that part of him. The short trim of his mussed hair. The hint of the scent of Cool Water lends to this moment. He is my Love. From the gray, white, and blue… blankets cover the park in brilliant white and blue hues. Washington Park. With my Love… my muse1
The Maid of Orleans:
As I gazed at the flames of the fire my heart, with all there that day, broke – such strength could not help but inspire.
The Maid of Orleans, a warrior spoke, her voice, a clarion call to arms, her courage, a light that never broke.
She led the charge, she fought the harm, she stood for France, she stood for God, and she stood for all that was right and calm.
And when the English, with their rod, did burn her at the stake, she smiled, for she knew she had done what was good.
Review Of Waide Riddle’s The Chocolate Man A Children’s Horror Story
A powerful and gripping tale of old-fashioned evil monsters that terrorized a town in New York at the turn of the 20th century. The Monster kills children and turns them into chocolate treats he then treats other children and adults with. The townspeople eventually defeat him, locking him up in his mansion, where he vows he will come again someday.
The story was written in a series of free-verse stanzas that drive the story forward to its horrific ending.
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The Mean Streets of Bombay
One wild night in Bombay, India,
I walked into an evil bar
20 drinks too sober
on the wicked-wrong end of
a Friday night booze run.
On the bad side of the Moon
where Martian men drank,
ogling the Venus girls and leering
at Earth women in skin-tight pants
that made their eyeballs hurt.
I gave into the spirit
and decided to join them,
getting drunk on Martian whiskey and
smoking that good old-fashioned
Mars dust as well.
Next thing I knew,
I was on my way to Jupiter,
on a lark with a gal who
said she was from Saturn.
Didn’t learn she was from Pluto
until I woke the next day,
naked and in jail somewhere
near Alpha Centauri.
A million miles away,
a thousand years in the future,
with no money, no honey,
and no fucking way home.
Still 20 drinks too sober,
I just pissed away my time
with fine Pluto whisky
and cold-ass alien wine.
Then one day
I found myself outside that bar again,
enveloped in the miasmic mists
by the old Martian whorehouse,
down near the Gate of India.
Walked up to my Pluto babe
and said, man,
that was some bad shit;
let’s do it again sometime.
Knew the day
would come again,
I’d be drinking with
those Martian men.
Something bad
my way would come,
another night
of wicked fun.
On the wrong side of the Moon,
on just the right night,
in the mean streets
I finally made it back to California after a three-year absence. Overall, not too bad. Expensive as hell, crowded, too many homeless people, too many druggies, too much crime. But it is not the dystopian hell hole portrayed on FOX News and the right-wing media.
Here are my reflections, along with some photos and some of my Bay Area-based stories and poems.
I was traveling with my wife, her brother, his wife, and their 12-year-old Korean niece. First time for my sister-in-law and niece to visit the Bay Area. We stayed at Travis AFB near Fairfield because the hotel costs were so high in the Bay Area.
Berkeley
Berkeley 1975 Street Scenes
Berkeley Time Travels
674 Santa Rosa My Childhood Home
Free Roaming in Berkeley as a Child
As you may know, I grew up almost 55 years ago in the Thousand Oaks Neighborhood of Berkeley. Solano Avenue was the local commercial street lined with restaurants and called Berkeley’s Chinatown because of all the Asian restaurants and Asian residents living there. It was also along with the hills, the “white republican sector” of town. Now there are almost no Republicans living in the city.
Berkeley has a lot of nice new housing, mostly high-rise apartments all over the place, who knows one of them could be mine in a few years. Solano Avenue had a lot of new restaurants to check out and lots of my favorite old ones are there.
Sad to see some of the Movie places closed, I think that there are only two movies left in Berkeley except for a Bollywood Indian movie theater in little Bombay.
For those of you who don’t know, Berkeley is so much more than Cal. There are ten official neighborhoods according to the Berkeley tourism office. Demographically the city has about 130k permanent residents, with an additional 30k when school is in session.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Berkeley (/ˈbɜːrkli/ BURK-lee) is a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County, California, United States. It is named after the 18th-century Anglo-Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley. It borders the cities of Oakland and Emeryville to the south the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington to the north. Its eastern border with Contra Costa County generally follows the ridge of the Berkeley Hills. The 2020 census recorded a population of 124,321.
Berkeley is home to the oldest campus in the University of California, the University of California, Berkeley, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which is managed and operated by the university. It also has the Graduate Theological Union, one of the largest religious studies institutions in the world. Berkeley is considered one of the most socially progressive cities in the United States.
The 2020 United States Census[90] reported that Berkeley had a population of 124,321. The population density was 11,874 people per square mile of land area (4,584/km2). The racial makeup of Berkeley was 62,450 (50.2%) White, 9,495 (7.6%) Black or African American, 24,701 (19.9%) Asian, 253 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 226 (0.2%) from Native American, 1,109 (0.9%) from other races, and 9,069 (7.2%) multiracial (two or more races). There were 17,018 (13.7%) of Hispanic or Latino ancestry, of any race.
The neighborhoods are.
The Hills
The hills are mostly white and wealthy. Many people commute to SF or are affiliated with the University. At the top of the hills is Grizzly Peak BLD which features the best views of the entire East Bay. Behind the hills lie Tilden Park, Wildlife Canyon, and Inspiration Point. Favorite haunts of my growing up.
Tilden Regional Park is a regional park in the East Bay of California. It is between the Berkeley Hills and San Pablo Ridge.
Thousand Oaks/Solano
Thousand Oaks neighborhood, where I grew up, lies at the bottom of the hills, and is centered on Solano Avenue which is lined with restaurants and shops. It blends into Albany which was a white working-class enclave back in the day. It was known as Berkeley’s Chinatown due to the numerous Asian restaurants in the area, which are still there. I went to Thousand Oaks Elementary where Kamala Harris went a few years after I went there. The movie theater unfortunately closed.
North Berkeley
Has several sub-neighborhoods and has a BART station. It is also the location of King Middle School where I went as a teenager. There are several small restaurants and businesses throughout the neighborhood. Along Shattuck, the main street is Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto and the home of the original Peets Coffee – the best coffee shop in Berkeley and where the premium coffee revolution started in the late 50s.
Downtown
Downtown has been transformed with lots of high-rise apartments and a thriving Arts District. Sadly, the five movie theaters have all closed, leaving the Pacific Film Institute the only theater in town. There are a lot of restaurants and coffee shops downtown as well as office buildings. There are several rooftop terrace restaurants. We had dinner in the Study Room on top of the new Marriot. Great views, and decent though expensive food. We dropped $350 for seven people. Berkeley High School is located downtown as is the main public library. Downtown is a booming area filled with apartments, resturants and several live theathers including Berkeley Rep. It is also the site of the Berkeley Film Archives, the last movie theather in Berkeley, and the Berkeley Art Museum.
berkeley friends
Campus
the University Campus domiantes the city as is to be expected. there are three student districts near the campus known as Northside, Southside and College Avenue. Each features resturants, shopping and housing for student, faculty and staff. The northside is also called seminary hill because of all the religious seminaries there – Buddhist, Christian and now a Muslim seminary as well.
.The campus is huge and spreads out from downtown to the hills but most of the campus is the center of the campus a short block away from Telegraph on the South and Hearst on the North. Despite the banning of affirmative action, CAL has done a good job – lots of Asian students, international studies, some Hispanic and some blacks, and less than 50 percent white.
Lots of activities on Campus, music, and free lectures open to the public. About half the students live on or near Campus but housing students faculty and staff is a huge problem for the University community. Just west of the Campus is the new home of the Berkeley Art Museum and The Pacific Film Institute which screens classic, art, and international movies every night
“Gorgeous sunset from UC Berkeley!”
Telegraph Avenue runs south from the Campus and into Oakland. It is lined with services for students, and lots of restaurants. Lots of apartments nearby. Used to have a lot of independent bookstores, but a few are still there.
Dwight Street and Telegraph seems stuck in 1969. People’s Park is being torn down to be turned into more student housing although they are going to keep a small park there. Right now, it is a homeless encampment and has been an eyesore for years.
South Berkeley
South Berkeley lies between Telegraph, Shattuck, and Sacramento along Ashby Avenue where there is BART station. It also has lots of restaurants and places to go. Back in the day, it was also the unofficial heart of Black Berkeley as Berkeley was 40 percent black, now it is about 6 percent black due to the high cost of real estate in Berkeley where the medium price of a house is over a million and the average rent is over $2,500 per month.
College Avenue Elmwood Rockridge
College Aveue is just west of Telegraph and is lined with residential housing, including the fraternities and sororities. It also has the International House which is a dormitory for foreign students. Elwood is a residential shopping district as is Claremont and Rockrige which is just across the border in Oakland and borders on Piedmont, a traditional wealthy enclave independent of Oakland.
Elmwood is on College Avenue and is similar to Solano Avenue but a bit smaller. Nearby is the Claremont Hotel and neighborhood one of the wealthiest enclaves in Berkeley.
Gilman Street
Gilman is in northwest Berkeley and was a working-class enclave -still is to a certain extent. Nice neighborhood eateries, and live music spaces
Albany
Albany is a suburban neighborhood just west of Berkeley between El Cerito and Gilman district centered on Solano and San Pablo Avenues. It use to be mostly white working class, but is not close to 50 Asian American.
Lorin and North Oakland including Korean Town
To the west of South Berkeley is the Lorin neighborhood which is an up-and-coming neighborhood. To the south is North Oakland including the second-largest Korean town on the West Coast after LA.
This was the traditional heart of Black Berkeley. There are still a lot of blacks living in Berkeley but due to the high rent and housing costs, the city is only seven percent black, when I was a young lad, it was 40 percent black and Oakland was 60 percent black.
West Berkely/Marina
West Berkeley has been gentrified beyond recognition. Back in the day, it was 90 percent black. I spent my first few years there as that was the only neighborhood a junior Cal professor could afford. It is no longer mostly black and is a hipster neighborhood. Lots of brew pubs in the area. Lots of students live here too.
The marina is on the bay. The bay trail runs through the neighborhood. There are restaurants on the bay and the dock of the Bay which is the site of the famous song.
SItting on the Dock of the Bay
the dock of the bay
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Sittin’ in the morning sun
I’ll be sittin’ when the evening comes
Watching the ships roll in
Then I watch ’em roll away again, yeah
I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Watchin’ the tide roll away, ooh
I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Wastin’ time
I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the Frisco Bay
‘Cause I’ve had nothing to live for
And look like nothing’s gonna come my way
So, I’m just gon’ sit on the dock of the bay
Watchin’ the tide roll away, ooh
I’m sittin’ on the dock of a bay
Wastin’ time
Looks like nothing’s gonna change
Everything still remains the same
I can’t do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I’ll remain the same, listen
Sittin’ here resting my bones
And this loneliness won’t leave me alone
2,000 miles I roam
Just to make this dock my home, now
I’m just gon’ sit at the dock of a bay
Watchin’ the tide roll away, ooh
Sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Wastin’ time
Nearby are Albany, El Cerrito, Oakland, Richmond, and Emeryville. I heard good things about Alameda but did not have time to visit.
Berkeley poems
How Berkeley Can You Be?
Berkeley is what it is,
and sometimes
Berkeley is what it ain’t.
tell me.
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
Tell me
tell me.
if you think you know
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
How Berkeley can you be?
Berkeley is everything.
Berkeley is the center.
of the universe
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
and Berkeley
in Berkeley.
and you are Berkeley.
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
You have a Berkeley thing going on.
You have Berkeley in your soul.
Berkeley has taken over your soul,
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
And you are Berkeley.
Born and raised.
Berkeley until you die, dude.
Berkeley until you die, dude.
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
Berkeley is more than just the students.
Berkeley is more than that.
As you know
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
Berkeley is more than just weed and beer.
Which is all you need?
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
Berkeley is more.
That is the best food.
In the universe
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
Berkeley is more than the best coffee.
In the world
Peet’s coffee of course
Nothing else will do.
If you are true, Berkeley.
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
Berkeley is more.
That Cal Football
Which rules?
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
Berkeley is Asian
Berkeley is Gay
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
Berkeley is white.
Berkeley is black.
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
Berkeley is brown.
Berkeley is Jewish
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
Berkeley is free-thinking.
Berkeley hate
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
Berkeley is free to love.
Berkeley is rock and roll.
Until you die
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
Berkeley if Funk
Berkeley is Hip Hop
Berkeley is hipness itself.
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
Berkeley is all of that.
And so much more.
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
let your inner Berkeley out.
feel the Berkeley Freak come out.
how Berkeley can you be.
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
Join the Berzerkly Vibe
Feel the Berkeley in your soul.
How Berkeley can you be?
Can you be in Berkeley,
Until you die?
How Berkeley can you be,
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
Long live Berkeley
The best city
In the universe.
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
And it is your city.
Your responsibility
To be as Berkeley
As you wanna be.
Until the day you die.
How Berkeley can you be?
How Berkeley do you wanna be?
Hark, I Hear the Spirits of Berkeley Calling Me Home. Berkeley
Long Version
Hark,
I hear the spirits.
Of Berkeley
Call me home.
The more I roam in this world.
The more I am drawn.
Back to the land
From whence I came.
Berkeley, California
Is what it is?
And sometimes
It is what it ain’t.
Berkely is a “how Berkeley, can you be vibe” town,
Home to CAL with 40,000 students who flood into the city nine months of the year, University professors, staff, and students,
Yet Berkeley is so much more the ultimate college town.
It is delicious food is everywhere around the corner sort of town, An artisanal craft beer, and spirits, coffee, herbal tea, Kombucha, and wine-drinking city, where coca-cola is seldom served, gourmet ghetto, inventor of the new American cuisine revolution, home of Chez Panisse, the French Laundry, and so many other restaurants, a place where you can find every cuisine of the world at a most affordable price, a town where there are more restaurants per capita than anywhere else, where if you wanted to eat dinner at a different restaurant every day it would take you years to do so, with new places opening and closing every day.
an anti-big box store vibe, yet with a lively small business sector, more restaurants and coffee shops per capita than almost anywhere else, lots of upscale groceries, used have a large Co-op (my father was the President), and ethnic foods markets, organic food markets, Berkeley Bowl market, farmers markets, plus usual corporate chain food stores.
MOES book rules, where Howl was written, where the Beatnik writers and culture types used to hang out, and their spiritual descendants still do.
Philip K Dicks hometown, (Philip K dick dated my mom before she met my father, end personal disclosures) Thornton Wilder and so many other great writers back in the day and here and now, Jack Kerouac and Alan Ginsberg lived and loved there,
Craft beer paradise, the hometown of Peets coffee, still the best damn coffee even though they have gone corporate, the coffee revolution of the late 50s and 60’s started here in the Coffee mecca of the United States, where Café Med proudly proclaimed to one and all.
‘We Don’t Serve Establishment Coffee,
They invented the American version of the Latte” It seems there are more coffee shops in Berkeley per capita than almost anywhere else in the country,
Berkeley is also the home of vibrant tea, smoothies, artisanal spirits, craft beer, and wine culture with urban wineries and brew pubs everywhere.
a gluten-friendly city with the best GF pizza in the world the Berkeley Cheese Collective, a foodies delight,
a diverse although less day by day as it is now a very expensive city,
a very ethnic town, used to have the largest Finnish community in the U.S, lots of Russians and Eastern Europeans back in the day, a city with people, from all over the known world, where 250 different languages are spoken at home, an African-American town, used to be a very black town, 40 percent back in the 70’s now perhaps twenty percent, a middle-class suburb of Oakland back in the day, but with a black lower class, working class, who are still hanging on somehow, but still a lot of my African Americans brothers and sisters hanging on despite the high rents and housing costs, many properties rich but cash poor, joined by so many African immigrants and Caribbean African immigrants as well, an Asian American city, home of a vibrant Chinese-American community, Korean-American, Hispanic City, Ohlone Tribal city, Native Americans from all different tribes still around the city, Japanese-American, Indian-American city, an Iranian diaspora, and now Afghani diaspora as well,
French people, European people, Jewish people, but no Jewish space Lazers yet, Indian American little Mumbai community where you can get the latest Bollywood movies, food, and Indian political gossip,
an artistic city, a creative city, a Great art Museum at CAL, home of the Pacific Film Archives a real treasure for movie lovers, with more movie theaters per capita than anywhere else,
, same for bookstores, music stores,
Rock n Roll fantasy world,
A Motown-friendly city,
A funk lovers paradise
A Blues lover mecca
And there are even country fans.
a musical city -hometown to the Earthquake, Green Day, Jimmi Hendrix’s last high school, Smoke and Fog,
New flash for Tju Dave – hey dude, I loved your song, you ain’t Berkeley enough” just want to say I represent that remark, but I represent Berkeley worldwide dude and I am still as Berkeley as I wanna be, anywhere in the world, dude, end news flash.
the Psychotic Pineapple, Rubinoos, and so many others.
Tower of Power “East Bay Grease sort of town,
A Berkeley High School rocks place, (personal disclosures I was the BHS student body president in 1973-1974),
the home of the song, “Sitting by the Dock of the Bay,”
An anti-establishment sort of city yet filled with students studying to be part of that despised establishment, all vowing to change the world but the world always changes them into yet more high-price corporate drones.
with zany wacked-out politics, a city at times lost in 1969, or lost in the future, A city where being called a “conservative “is considered a vile insult,
a very progressive city, probably the most progressive city in the country, which in my opinion is a good thing, not something to be ashamed of,
a PC is a cool city that invented PC before it became a curse word of sorts, a city where there are real live Marxists, communists, and socialists but no one takes them seriously, and there are a few proto-fascist political science professors as well,
the spiritual home of the beatniks, the hippies, the yippies, and sadly the weathermen
the city that gave us “the Symbionese Liberation Army,” kidnapper of Patty Hearst,
(personal disclosure: the SLA briefly terrorized the Bay Area, and my family during the 70s calling my father “a fascist insect that preys on the life of the people, his offense = demanding that students and staff at the Peralta College be required to wear ID’s to combat a rise in violent crime on the campuses, my father not having a sense of humor did not like my joke when one morning I said,
“Good morning fascist Insect how are you today?” My mother loved it and spoke.
“Yeah, he is a fascist insect but he is our fascist insect” and laughed. My father merely glared at the two of us. End Personal disclosure)
a Political city up the Yazoo town, a one-party town but with two rival political factions, republicans and there are some of them in town, feel like they are an endangered species, (another personal disclosure, my Dad was Curtis Cosmos Aller, the President of the Berkeley Co-op from 1968 to 1985 when he died, the President of the Peralta board of Colleges, who ran for Congress in 1974 in the Democratic primary against the legendary Ron Dellums, end personal disclosure) very few Q nuts but I am sure there are some, just as there are no doubt people who believe in the lizard shapeshifter conspiracy,
(Personal note: I am a human being but once I took an online quiz to determine whether I could be part alien and the quiz said I was an alien, go figure)
A very anti-Q town, pro-science, rational type of town, filled with humanists and secular humanist types,
A hate bigotry town. Where Ann Coulter and her fellow right-wing followers are not welcome,
a town that proudly voted against Trump – 90 percent in 2016 and 2020) proud center of the “resistance” home of Antifa, BLM rules, the birthplace of the black panthers who met at the first African American high school history class in the US in the early 60s, at BHS of course, and home of the Gray Panthers, a city whose representative in Congress. Representative Barbara Lee, was the only representative to vote against the Iraq war in 2003, noting that Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11, to the rest of the country she was a dangerous left-wing radical, to the Bay Area, and me, a real American Patriotic hero.
a very marijuana-friendly city where the joke has always been pulling out a joint and it cool, pulling out a cigarette and everyone wants to send you to jail, smoking cigarettes being so uncool nowadays,
at times, a very joyful city but not enough joy due to the political disputes and anger as people in Berkeley are very into political discussions and are news junkies,
A very frank town where everyone has an opinion and is not afraid to speak up,
bike friendly, environmentally friendly city, a recycling mecca, renewable energy, friendly, where the university engineers are working to solve the world.
s energy problems and coming up with solutions to the climate change crisis, solar panels everywhere, transit-friendly, zip car friendly, uber/lift friendly, BART friendly, walkable sort of town.
at times hot city, living with the constant fear of the mega drought, fires and the big one, atmospheric rivers, polar vortexes, and another global warming phenomenon as climate change becomes nightmarishly real, but most days the same, foggy cool mornings, nice pleasant in the 70s afternoons, then more fog dipping into high 40s by midnight, used to be no rain between April and October just the cool morning fog, but nowadays with climate change, we get rain even in the summer, and they joke there are two seasons now in California the rainy season October to March and fire season April to October, all due to the non-existent climate change hoax,
To the rest of the world, a very “Berserkly place”
a Buddhist-friendly city, including a Buddhist Zen Center, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Buddhist temples a Buddhist Seminary, A Tai-Chi mecca, A centric, very zen attitude sort of town,
a liberal Christian city where fundamentalists are not welcomed, where atheists, free thinkers, liberal Muslims, liberal Hindus, new age types, and Wiccans are welcomed, home of several liberal Christian seminaries, a Buddhist seminary, and now a Muslim seminary all located on Seminary Hill)
A city where making fun of the street preachers is a fun game for the militant atheists of the city (personal disclosures that were me back in the day, I loved to heckle Holly Hubert joined at times by my old friend Julia Vinograd, the bubble lady who used to blow bubbles at Holly Herbert as he ranted about how we would all go to hell for our heathen ways, Holly Hubert is long gone by now as that was almost 45 years ago)
a crazy city. a cool city, and at times a cold city,
filled with the scent of good craziness, and sometimes very bad craziness as sometimes on a bad night things can go bad if you are in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong people, or are the victim of a drug deal gone bad when the guns come out to play to settle disputes, or knives are drawn and people get very crazy or are just unlucky to be caught up in the crossfire, or on a bad trip on bad drugs, just too many damn drugs and too many people whose minds were fried by the same damn drugs, in short Berkeley does have a dark side to it,
a city of big dreamers, a fast-paced city,
but for the most part, it is a friendly town, but not too friendly, A freaky place filled with freakazoids, A funky vibe, a funny town all around,
and you can have fun there as well as get lucky and meet the woman or man of your dreams, as there are lots of young single men and women looking for Mr. Good, or Ms. Good as the case may be,
An Oakland A, and SF giants town, forty-niners (although some hate them for moving to San Jose, the Northern California clone of LA. And Golden States warriors but everyone now hates the Las Vegas Raiders, as much every person born in Berkeley must hate LA, sort of part of Berkeley and the Northern Californian DNA to be hating on LA, the LA Dodgers, and now the Las Vegas Raiders.,
A live and let live z tude, A loony tunes place, A happy go lucky sort of vibe city,
“Hella Berkeley “city, A historical city, A Hippie town back in the day, A hip hop center, A hip city where everyone knows what hip is but can say what it is, what is hip, yal? Do you know? Hipness, like Berkeley, is what it is and sometimes is what is not,
too many homeless people living on the streets city, panhandling, and becoming a nuisance, getting into everyone’s face, destroying everyone’s mellow, lonely at times city where many people have thousands of virtual friends but few real friends.
very LGBTQ-friendly, a feminist city, a very pro-choice town,
An only in Berkeley kind of vibe,
a city where people still read a lot, where newspapers have not died but are mostly read online,
home of a rich alternative press history, although sadly most have gone by the wayside, I remember the Berkeley Barb, the Berkeley Gazette, the SF Chronicle, the Bay Guardian, the East Bay Express, the Berkeley Voice, the great underground comics like Fritz the Cat, reading online Berkeley news outlets just not the same thing at all. And BHS used to have a daily newspaper, now a weekly paper although the CAL daily is still mostly read online.
A very sad town, a special city, A city that would welcome space aliens who might already be there, an OMG place,
a rainy blues sort of day place.,
Robots are a cool city where new robots are being developed every day, a city where people are building the singularity not fearing it,
A Mask Up follows the science town badly hit by the COVID pandemic, particularly the small business that took it on the chin,
the birth of NaNoWriMo, the November Write a Novel in a Month contest, (personal disclosure -I completed three of these)
A poet-friendly place where people get poetry,
rents are insane, housing prices too, the only people who can afford to buy are people with boatloads of money, and somehow there are lots of those types hanging out, and lots of people who don’t have money who somehow manage to get by, who can afford to live here? It takes serious piles of moolah, big piles of money, lots of cash, dollars up the yazoo, trust baby parents, or selling your soul to a start-up from hell, to be able to pay the rent or lots of roommates, yet people still flock to the city, how they can afford it is still a mystery to me.
a stand-up guy sort of city,
student-friendly, kind of a suburb of Oakland and SF, yet doing its own very Berkeley thing,
home of great city parks,
San Pablo Park (home
of the annual BHS alumnus picnic)
Indian Rock Peoples Park
Inspiration point,
Ho Chi Min Park in the 70s
the Rose Garden
Strawberry canyon,
Tilden Park,
Wildcat canyon
part of the Bay Area Ridge Trails and Bay Area Bay Trails which are almost complete, doing a thru-hike of both, the Appalachian, the cross-continental, and the PC trails are among my bucket list dreams,
too cool for school,
sometimes a traffic hell place, BART trains too crowded, pickpockets and other unsavory criminal types hanging out by the BART train stations, along with high school students, druggies,
a “west Coast Rap kingdom, wine drinkers paradise, the former home of the weathermen and other leftist domestic terrorists) a wonderful world for the young at heart, a unique city, a pro-vac place, vibrant, vegetarian, and vegan friendly, yet still offering enough meat options for the carnivores, and still the ultimate university town but as you can see by now, so much more than that, yoga is God kind of town where yoga is mandatory, Yuppie place, a zany city, a zestful town, and lately a zoom work by home town, Berkeley is all of that and so more in short. Berkely is a kind sort of place, unique in all the universe and it is my homeland,
But still, I am drawn.
And want to return.
Before my time is done,
As it remains
My spiritual homeland.
Berkeley Time Travels
I grew up in Berkeley, California
In the turbulent fabled late ’60s
And in Berkeley in those days
Time seems to stand at a standstill.
On the corner of Dwight and Telegraph
Across from People’s Park
It seems to be always May 1969
With the man
Down the street
Oppressing the hippies
On the street
As they smoked their weed
Dodging the bored cops
Who looked the other way?
If they did not partake
And then I went to college
In the valley
As I drove into Stockton
I felt I was traveling again.
In time
Back to the fabled ’50s
Stockton was also.
Stuck in a time warp of sorts.
And as I left the Bay area.
And traveled the world.
I would come back.
To that corner
And just be there.
Stuck in May 1969
Again
Marveling at the changes
That had and had not occurred.
To the corner of the land
Forever stuck in time
And space
San Francisco
We toured much of San Franciso and saw the Giants Lose at Oracle Park.
The neighborhoods are still vibrant but everything is too expensive.
We drove through South Beach, Mission District, Filmore, Haight-Ashbury, Castro District, Noe Valley, Presidio, Richmond, Sunset, North Beach, and Chinatown and walked through Union Square. Ran out of time to fully explore the city.
South Beach is a newly developed neighborhood west of downtown near Ball Park and the vibrant
Dogpatch neighborhood which was recently been officially rated the 17th coolest neighborhood in the world. An ethnically diverse community with and bohemian hipster feeling.
The Mission district is south of the ballpark and is the heart of San Francisco’s Hispanic district. Still mostly Hispanic but gentrifying.
The Filmore used to be the heart and soul of Black San Franciso. It has been heavily gentrified as has the adjacent Western addition but recently there has been a revival of the jazz scene in the area.
We walked through the famous counter-cultural neighborhood of Haight-Ashbury. It still has the 67 vibe and like Telegraph in Berkeley, it seems stuck in a time warp.
We drove through the Presidio which is now an urban national park based on the old Presidio military base which closed in the early 90s. I remember shopping at the commissary back in the day. Cristy Field is a
nice, restored beach.
We toured Fisherman’s Wharf and Piere 39. A bit of a tourist trap but still worth a visit, bought chocolate at Ghirardelli Square.
We also drove through Russian Hill and Nob Hill neighborhoods which are among the wealthiest in the city and saw the famous Lombard Street but did not drive down it.
We walked through Chinatown and North Beach. Chinatown has seen better days as has North Beach. Still work visiting and walking about.
Union Square was strangely deserted as many people felt that it was just too dangerous a place – there were homeless people everywhere in the city and there was a fear of crime. Everything is just so damn expensive.
We drove through the CIVIC center which was impressive from an architecture point of view. Did not see homeless people shooting up and defecating there despite the hysteria of Fox News.
We drove through the edges of the tenderloin. I think that the Tenderloin, the highest crime area in the city, is ripe for gentrification given its central location. We did see a lot of homeless people hanging about, but again no people shooting up or defecating on the street.
The sunset area is nice. We had a great Mexican dinner at Cecilia’s by the Beach which was not too bad. Ocean Blvd was great. The beach was great but a bit cold.
SF Time Travels
Visitng SF After Being Gone for Three Years
In the summer of 2023,
I found myself.
Back in San Franciso
My homeland.
Last visited pre-covid
2018
Touring the city
With my Korean -in Laws
We stopped in Haigh Ashbury
Took photos.
Wearing flowers
In our hair
Our video
Of our San Franciso adventures
Particularly our hiking
The seven hills
And having croissants
And coffee in North Beach
Became a surprise TikTok hit.
Note: grew up in Berkeley, visiting every other year since I left in 1979 Found San Franciso is still a fascinating city to visit, is not the dystopian nightmare that Fox News portrays, but too expensive, with too many homeless and too much street crime.
Use in your story or poem the following – bold these words for tomorrow’s judge:
after our tour of SF and Berkeley, we drove down to Standford and SIlicon Valley. We walked across the Campus and drove aroud Menlo Park saw the Google main Campus. Ran out of time to further explore San Jose and Santa Clara country which is the heart of Silicon Valley. Silcion Valley started near Standford as many of the engineers that started all the tech firms were Standford Computer science engineers including the founders of Google, Apple and HP. And Thomas Edison lived in Menlo Park where he came up with many of his revolutionary inventions in his labs located there.
Travis AFB/Fairfield/Vacaville
when I visit the Bay Area, we usually stay up at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield CA which is about a 45-minute minutes drive from Berkeley in light traffic, and there is a CAL Trans train nearby as well.
It is a typical Air Force Base with a commissary, PX, hospitals, and all the conveniences and it is a lot cheaper staying there than staying in the central Bay Area.
This time around I was staying with my Korean In-laws, and we decided to check out the neighboring cities while we were there. We found that the base had a very nice military aviation museum so it’s worth a visit but non-military-affiliated people may have a hard time getting on base to see the museum.
replica of Fat Boy the H Bomb dropped on Hiroshima
The nearby towns of Dixon, Fairfield, and Vacaville are all worth a visit, as are the Delta towns nearby.
Factoid
California is the rice basket of the U.S., growing most of the U.S. rice in the vast San Joaquin-Sacramento River delta communities which are just southeast of Travis. And they are also the biggest sake producers in the world exporting raw Sakae back to Japan!
These little towns are worth a future visit.
They have lots of outlet malls nearby, the biggest shopping malls in the Northern California region., Vacaville has the Jelly Bean museum which was worth a visit as well as hosting a nice wine and vine festival when we were there.
There are wineries nearby and there are regional parks nearby with lots of hiking opportunities. Most of the year it’s not too hot except for the afternoons when they can get into the hundreds occasionally. It is not a bad place to be based for a visit to the San Francisco Bay area, especially if you can stay on base.
Dixon
My niece lives in Dixon which is about half an hour from Sacramento, and Travis and 45 minutes to the central Bay Area. While I did not get to see much of the city, it seemed to be a nice community with a cute downtown. Reminds me of Medford, Oregon where we were spending the summer.
for more info see the following Bing AI Chat info
Here are some of the top things to do near Travis Air Force Base: • Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center: A museum that highlights the history of Travis Air Force Base and the United States Air Force. It has a collection of aircraft, engines, and other artifacts that are sure to fascinate aviation enthusiasts 1.
• Jelly Belly Factory Tour: A fun and interactive tour of the Jelly Belly candy factory in Fairfield. You can learn about the history of the company, see how the candy is made, and even sample some of the flavors 1.
Note: worth a visit. loved it,
• Western Railway Museum: A museum that displays historic electric railway cars and other artifacts from the early 20th century. You can take a ride on one of the restored streetcars and learn about the history of electric transportation 1.
• Lagoon Valley/Pena Adobe Regional Park: A beautiful park with hiking trails, picnic areas, and a lake. You can enjoy a leisurely hike, have a picnic, or go fishing 1.
• Brenden Vacaville 16: A movie theater that shows the latest Hollywood releases. It has comfortable seating, a large screen, and excellent sound quality 1.
• Wooden Valley Winery: A winery that produces a variety of wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot. You can take a tour of the winery, taste some of the wines, and enjoy the
beautiful scenery 1.
• Suisun City Marina and Boat Ramp: A marina that offers boat rentals, fishing charters, and other water
activities. You can rent a boat and explore the Delta, go fishing, or just enjoy the scenic views 1.
• Vezer Family Vineyard: A family-owned winery that produces award-winning wines. You can take a tour of the vineyard, taste some of the wines, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings 2.
• Rockville Hills Regional Park: A park with hiking trails, picnic areas, and scenic views. You can enjoy a leisurely hike, have a picnic, or just relax and take in the scenery 3.
• Scandia Family Center: An amusement park with mini-golf, batting cages, bumper boats, and other attractions. It’s a great place to spend a fun-filled day with family and friends 2.
• Sonoma Harvest Olive Oil & Winery: A winery that produces high-quality olive oil and wine. You can take a tour of the winery, taste some of the products, and learn about the production process 2.
I have tried white water rafting a couple of times in my life. Once or twice in the Boy Scouts, once in West Virginia during foreign service training, and twice now along the Rogue River in southern Oregon. I have also gone tubing along the Natches and Yakima rivers as a child and tried canoeing, and rowing while I was in the Boy Scouts.
rogue river 2
Among these various boating escapades, the Rogue River experience was the best. There are several jet boat/white water rafting outfitters. The best is the Hellgate Jetboat excursions company based out of Grants Pass.
Grants Pass is a cute river town about ninety minutes north of the Oregon/California border, (one hour from Ashland, Medford, or Jacksonville) perhaps three hours from Portland, six hours from Seattle, and perhaps 10 hours from SF. Grants Pass has a lot of wineries nearby and some decent craft beer breweries in town and one artisanal whiskey maker, Sundance Disterly located next to the Hellgate company offices.
rogue 3
There are four or five different routes you can take. We did the two-hour excursion which takes you down the Hellgate Canyon hence the name of the outfitters. There is also a brunch and dinner option and a four-day excursion as well.
rogue 4We found the price was quite reasonable 35$ per adult with the military/senior discount figured in, and a suggested gratuity to the boat pilot of $5.00 per member of your group, so we paid $20 for the five of us.
The Hellgate story, As one of the United States’ first jet boat companies, Hellgate Jet boat Excursions has run adventures through the wild and scenic Rogue River for over half a century – all while actively working with our local Parks Department. to enhance the …
Early Hudson’s Bay Company hunters and trappers, following the Siskiyou Trail, passed through the site beginning in the 1820s. In the late 1840s, settlers (mostly American) following the Applegate Trail began traveling through the area on their way to the Willamette Valley. The city states[9] that the name was selected to honor General Ulysses S. Grant‘s success at Vicksburg. The Grants Pass post office was established on March 22, 1865.[10] The city of Grants Pass was incorporated in 1887.[11]
Grants Pass, along with Medford and Ashland was an unofficial “sundown town“, which actively warned Black and other non-white people to leave town before sunset or face violence and harassment. Although there was no documented law of the racist policy, it was enforced locally via residents and signage.[13][14]
Geography
Grants Pass is located in the Rogue Valley; the Rogue River runs through the city. U.S. Route 199 passes through the city and joins Interstate 5. The city has a total area of 11.03 square miles (28.6 km2), of which 10.87 square miles (28.2 km2) is land and 0.16 square miles (0.41 km2) is water.[15]
The other day I returned to Bend, Oregon. I last visited there in 2019 and enjoyed both visits. Growing up in Berkeley, I spent my summer with my family in Yakima staying at the family’s cabin in the national forest near Mt. Ranier. My father was a college professor and had July and August off, so we went to the cabin during the summers. We frequently drove through Bend as it was on the route from Yakima to the Bay Area. We usually stayed in Medford or Weed, but sometimes we stopped in Bend or the small town of Chemult.
Bend in those days was a backwater little town, a little bigger than the town of CHemul or Klamath Falls. It was a boring agricultural town.
Over the years it has become a trendy, hip town filled with the best beer in the country, great wine as well, and decent food as it is a foodie’s delight. Bend is a hip town about an hour southeast of Portland on the edge of the Oregon high mountain desert, it is the mecca of artisanal spirits, beer, and Kombucha. There is a good museum called the Oregon High Desert Museum which is worth a visit. There is also an Oregon Cascade scenic bypass, a 66-mile drive through the Cascades that I am looking forward to driving on my next trip
The city is the second fastest-growing city in Oregon if not the country. It is increasingly diverse, no longer a backwater. There is a new State college there as well. Mostly tourism based now, but there are some hi-tech companies set up there.
The city is lined with beautiful parks along the Deschutes River which runs through the city. The city is the second most fit city in the country and we saw lots of people, walking, biking, boating, or hitting the gym.
We walked about Drake Park and Juniper Park before trying the beer at Bend Brewing Company downtown. We drove around town after touring downtown and having some great Gelato. We stopped off at the last Blockbuster left in the country, stopped off at Humms’s Kombucha, and then had a beer sampler at Long Barrel Beer one of the bigger brew pubs in town.
We drove by several of the many parks in Bend, stopping off at Jupiter Park and Drake’s park. the city is building a long trail along the Deschutes River which flows through town.
bend park
last Blockbuster
The last blockbuster video store in the world is located in Bend, Oregon. Blockbusters used to be everywhere. Then they weren’t with the advent of Netflix and streaming services. But, somehow they manage to thrive in trendy little Bend Oregon. Seeing a blockbuster brought back memories. We used to go every Friday night to get movies for the weekend picking three to five to watch every weekend.
Conveniently located downtown along the mirror pound park near Drakes Park. It has lots of places to sit outside and enjoy the weather. The beer is great.
Welcome to Bend Brewing Co. We were established in 1995, and are the second oldest brew pub in Bend, Oregon. We have a rich history of award winning craft beer brewed at our
humm original. We didn’t invent kombucha, we perfected it. We’ve always had one primary goal: to make people feel good. And as more and more people are drinking kombucha …
We stopped by their tasting room and tried a number of samples. we drove by the factory as well.
my Brother-in-law and his wife have a Kombucha business in Korea. So they were quite interested in seeing how it is made.
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. It is the principal city of the Bend Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon’s largest city, with a population of 99,178 at the time of the 2020 U.S. Census, up from 76,693 at the time of the 2010 U.S. Census, and 52,029 at the … See more
On the way to Bend, we stopped off at the High Desert Museum which is worth a visit. The highlights of the museum are the outdoor walks that go through the high desert forest with a great otter exhibit and a bird of prey exhibit with eagles, and other birds of prey. There are lots of chipmunks running around as well. The otters were very cute as otters tend to be.
The museum had a decent Native American exhibit as well as an outdoor recreation of a settler’s camp circa 1890 or so.
The High Desert Museum is located near Bend, Oregon, United States. Opened in 1982, it brings regional wildlife, culture, art, and natural resources together to promote an understanding of the natural and cultural heritage of North America’s high desert country. The museum uses indoor and outdoor exhibits, wildlife in natural-like habitats, and living history demonstrations to help people discover and appreciate the high desert environment. The museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums.
Facilities :
The High Desert Museum sits on 135 acres (0.55 km square) of pine-covered forest land in Central Oregon. South of Bend on U.S. Route 97, the museum includes various indoor and outdoor exhibits, a library, a desertarium, and a cafe. Portland’s GHA Architects designed the original museum building. That structure contains walls built from volcanic rocks and slate flooring. The outdoor exhibits and various buildings are connected by a half-mile-long paved path.
Collections :
The museum has more than 18,500 artifacts in its collections. Artwork includes works from Edward Curtis, Edward Borein, Charles Marion Russell, Philip Hyde (photographer), and Alfred Jacob Miller among others. Historical artifacts include those of Native American origin and post-Euro-American settlement of the region. Many of the Native American items are from the Doris Swayze Bounds Collection of American Indian Art and Artifacts, and the Doris Bounds Swayze collection.
This unique museum reveals the West’s High Desert region through artful exhibits, alluring animals, engaging programs and meaningful history. Whether you’re a local or planning to visit Bend, Oregon, discover why …
Chemult
One of the towns we drove through is the town of Celmult, Oregon. It is a town now, I recalled it being bigger when we drove through back in the 70s. We often spend the night there. It is the snowiest town in Oregon if not in the United States. Now there is not much there.
The locale was originally established in 1924 as a station on the Southern Pacific Cascade Line named “Knott” during construction.[4] The station’s name was changed to Chemult when the line opened in 1926 and a post office was established the same year.[4] The name Chemult comes from a Klamath chief who was one of the 26 who signed the Klamath Lake Treaty of October 14, 1864.[4][5]
The area around Chemult is commonly used for hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, dog sled racing, fishing, and hunting. Chemult also offers the annual Sled Dog Races where mushers come to race their sled dogs and compete for cash prizes.
Chemult is Trump country as many smaller towns in Oregon are. Oregon is a blue state with much of the population in the Portland -Eugune corridor. Central Oregon, (with the exception of Bend) eastern Oregon and Southern Oregon (with the exception of Ashland) are ruby red, politically speaking. But in general, people in Oregon are not as partisan as people in many other states tend to be. They are a pretty tolerant and friendly lot.
Rogue Gorge and Natural Bridge
(from internet article)
On the way to Bend we stopped off at the Rogue River gorge = a long waterfall near Crater Lake that is worth a visit, the other day we visited the natural bridge nearby which is also spectacular.
Nature’s own magic act
Everyone loves a good magic trick, and nature seems to have figured out a way to create one- without the smoke and mirrors. Natural Bridge, a point along the upper reaches of the Rogue River, is where the magic happens. At this point, the Rogue River disappears underground into a 250-foot lava tube, with a small amount of water escaping from the tube, forming a pool under the bridge. All the water, slowly but surely, reappears at the surface further down the river.
There are many ways to hike this stretch of the Rogue River. Natural Bridge itself can be reached via the Upper Rogue River trail. The easy hiking 2.4-mile loop option includes views of Natural Bridge and is accessible for all ages. For this route, start at the Natural Bridge viewing area. Stay on the near side of the river and start hiking upstream. Hike upstream until you reach Woodruff Bridge. Cross the bridge here and head downstream back to another foot bridge right near your starting point. The loop can be done in either direction with no substantial advantages either way. The trail itself has amazing river views, views of Natural Bridge, and ancient old-growth forests.
There are different campsites in the area, all of which have easy access to Natural Bridge, and the many surrounding recreation areas. This area is 10-15 minutes away from Crater Lake National Park and is a great place to stay to enjoy the park. Longer hiking options continue upstream to the Rogue Gorge along the river. You can also do a very short hike to the Rogue Gorge viewpoint just off the highway, this option is more of a leg stretch than a “hike” but has amazing views of the gushing river. More details and directions on different hiking routes here.
While this natural wonder is as impressive as the lush forests around it, it is not protected. If you want to help protect one of nature’s own magic acts, be sure to sign the petition and support the Crater Lake Wilderness region for generations to come.
These are my reflections on Oregon. I have been to Oregon many times over the years. My father was a college professor at SF State, and we spent our summers at the family cabin near Mt. Ranier and winters too. I quit going to the cabin with my family when I was in college. We kept the cabin in the family until my mother sold it after my father passed away in 1985. Uncle-in-law managed the family’s fruit farm near Yakima until he died in the early nineties.
On the way to and from Yakima, we frequently stayed in Medford. Later in 1990, I bought a property in Medford, two duplexes, and a house. We still have the duplexes which we renovated in 2017, We sold the house at the market peak in 2007 My brother was going to move to Oregon and manage our properties for us but his plans fell through so we were stuck with the properties which provided good income once we paid off the mortgages back in 1996 or so.
The plan was to spend our summers in Oregon with side trips to Northern California, Portland, Seattle, and Las Vegas.
COVID put a stop to that and we finally got back after three years. We are back on our summer plan. Unfortunately, our tenant trashed our furnished apartment, so we had to change our original five-week road trip to two weeks – Oregon Coast, Portland, Seattle, Yakima, and Bend including a side trip to Crater Lake, and then a trip down Highway one to the Bay Area and stay in the Bay Area for about a week – with an optional trip to Las Vegas, Arizona, and Utah provided the heat is less than 105 every day. Right now, with temperatures over 120, it is simply too dangerous to drive.
Ashland
Ashland is a nice college town and the home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, one of the oldest Shakespeare festivals in the Western United States. We usually try to take in a show when we are in the area. The University has an award-winning English literature department due to its long-standing connection to the festival. There are lots of trendy restaurants and bars in the city. During the winter it is a base for people going to Mt. Ashland for skiing.
The city is the home of Southern Oregon University (SOU) and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF). These are important to Ashland’s economy, which also depends on restaurants, galleries, and retail stores that cater to tourists. Lithia Park along Ashland Creek, historic buildings, and a paved intercity bike trail provide additional visitor attractions.
Ashland, originally called “Ashland Mills”, was named after Ashland County, Ohio, the original home of founder Abel Helman, and secondarily for Ashland, Kentucky, where other founders had family connections. Ashland has a council-manager government assisted by citizen committees. Historically, its liberal politics have differed, often sharply, from much of the rest of southwest Oregon.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival 75th anniversary banner
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival has grown from a summer outdoor series in the 1930s to a season that stretches from February to October, incorporating Shakespearean and non-Shakespearean plays at three theaters.[42] The OSF has become the largest regional repertory theater in the United States.[14]
The Oregon Cabaret Theater features musicals and comedies throughout the year.[43] Opened in 1986, the dinner theater occupies a former First Baptist Church built in Mission Revival style.[44] The Ashland Independent Film Festival, which shows international and domestic films of almost every genre, takes place each April in the Varsity Theatre downtown. About 90 films are shown during the five days of the festival.[45] In 2009, Ashland was the setting for the film adaptation of Gaman’s Coraline.[46]
The Oregon Center for the Arts at Southern Oregon University focuses on academic programs including creative arts (art, emerging media, and creative writing), music, and theater. Affiliated with the center is the Schneider Museum of Art, which has rotation exhibitions of works featuring professional contemporary artists. Also affiliated with the center are chamber music concerts, a Shakespeare institute, a piano series, and other art-related events.[47]
The annual Ashland New Plays Festival (ANPF) is a nonprofit organization that encourages playwrights to develop new work through public readings. Each year, the ANPF holds an international competition that winnows hundreds of submissions to four plays that are read to live audiences by professional actors during a five-day festival in October
Ashland Co-Op is a great natural foods store in Ashland. They used to pre-covid have a great make-your-own sandwich bar. My favorite was their loaded BLT.
Sam Adams, favorite sandwich
Was the make it your own sandwich
Served at the Ashland, Oregon, Co-Op
A modified BLT sandwich on Gluten free bread
Cheese, roast beef or pastrami, bacon
Sprouts, lettuce, tomatoes, dill pickles, peppers
Mayo, mustard, ketchup
Just heaven in every delicious bite
Lithia Park
Lithia Park in Ashland is a great park that follows Lithia Creek. It was designed by the NCY and Golden Gate Park designer Olmstead.
Lithia Springs
Lithia Springs is a small hot springs resort just north of Ashland. It has been operating as a spa since the 1880’s.
Within the hub of downtown sits Lithia Park, Ashland’s crown jewel. Lithia is a 100-acre vista of emerald lawns, pickleball courts, a sand-pit volleyball court, the Swim Reservoir at the …
Lithia Springs Resort in Ashland, Oregon. Low Online Rates – Book Today! Lithia Springs Resort in Ashland, Oregon. 2165 W Jackson Rd. Book Now.
Astoria
Astoria is a town at the mouth of the Colombia River about an hour from Portland. I went Salmon Fishing there with my dad when I was 16. It has a nice Lewis and Clark museum as this was the farthest extent of their legendary trip in the 1810s.
Astoria is a port city and the seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1811, Astoria is the oldest city in the state and was the first permanent American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains.[6] The county is the northwest corner of Oregon, and Astoria is located on the south shore of the Columbia River, where the river flows into the Pacific Ocean. The city is named for John Jacob Astor, an investor and entrepreneur from New York City, whose American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site and established a monopoly in the fur trade in the early 19th century. Astoria was incorporated by the Oregon Legislative Assembly on October 20, 1856.[1]
Bend is a hip town about an hour southeast of Portland on the edge of the Oregon high mountain desert, it is the mecca of artisanal spirits, beer, and Kombucha.
There is a good museum called the Oregon High Desert Museum which is worth a visit. There is also an Oregon Cascade scenic bypass, a 66-mile drive through the Cascades that I am looking forward to driving.
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. It is the principal city of the Bend Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon’s largest city, with a population of 99,178 at the time of the 2020 U.S. Census, up from 76,693 at the time of the 2010 U.S. Census, and 52,029 at the … See more
Here the Coos River enters Coos Bay on the Pacific Ocean. The city borders the city of North Bend, and together they are often referred to as one entity called either Coos Bay-North Bend or Oregon’s Bay Area.[7] Coos Bay’s population as of the 2020 census was 15,985 residents, making it the most populous city on the Oregon Coast. Oregon’s Bay Area is estimated to be home to 32,308 (Coos Bay Census County Division).[8]
Crater Lake National Park
i have been to Crater Lake at least ten times in my life. It is always impressive. We tried to go to Crater Lake, but our car had other ideas. Fortunately, a good Samaritan came along and helped out. We went the next day. And a good day touring the park. We stopped off at the Oregon Natural Bridge just before entering the park. That was very impressive.
Write a Naani poem. A Naani consists of 4 lines, and the total lines consist of 20 to 25 syllables.
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Klamath Falls (/ˈklæməθ/KLAM-əth) is a city in, and the county seat of, Klamath County, Oregon, United States. The city was originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867. It was named after the Link River, on whose falls the city was sited. The name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1893.[5] The population was 21,813 at the 2020 census. The city is on the southeastern shore of the Upper Klamath Lake located about 246 miles (396 km) northwest of Reno, Nevada, and approximately 17 miles (27 km) north of the California–Oregon border.
Logging was Klamath Falls’s first major industry.
We drove back through Klamath Falls, which is a dying city, not that prosperous looking. There is an airbase there as well as the Oregon Institute of Technology but overall, the city seems to be depressed economically speaking. There are two dams on the Klamath river which are scheduled to be removed and the whole river re-wildered next year or so. There is a small downtown business district that has seen better days.
Central Point
Central Point is a small community north of Medford near the airport and COSTCO. There is an industrial zone on the west side of the city that abuts the west Medford industrial zone. I went there frequently when we were doing the epic remodeling of our four Medford units in 2016; We go there almost every day to go to COSTCO but have not explored the rest of the city.
Table rock mountains are two Messa mountains north of Medford that are great places to hike. But during the summer it is best to go in the morning as it often gets about 100 degrees in the late afternoon.
Upper Table Rock and Lower Table Rock are two prominent volcanic plateaus located just north of the Rogue River in Jackson County, Oregon, U.S. Created by an andesitic lava flow approximately seven million years ago and shaped by erosion, they now stand about 800 feet (240 m) above the surrounding Rogue … See more
Starting approximately 40 million years ago in the middle Eocene, a braided river system called the “Ancestral Rogue River” flowed through the… See more
Agate Desert Park
Another great little park north of Medford, famous for natural agates.
Eagle Point is a small-town northeast of Medford. It is on the Rogue River and is a popular staging area for river rafting trips. There are several award-winning golf courses there.
It is also settling for some reason for most of my horror stories where I construct an eldritch Lovecraftian haunted mansion that Sam Adams of the Cosmos Institute inherits.
Eugene in the University of Oregon campus town. It reminds me of Berkeley and Boulder -both college towns. It has a good co-op that had great sandwiches back in the day.
Roseburg is another little town on the rouge river. There are lots of wineries nearby. But what it is known for is Oregon’s wildlife safari which is worth a visit.
It is also the northernmost extension of the Northern California climate zone and the southernmost extension of the Pacific Northwest climate zone. Once you go north you enter into the Pacific Northwest climate zone.
Roseburg is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is in the Umpqua River Valley in southern Oregon and is the county seat and most populous city of Douglas County. Founded in 1851, the population was 23,683 at the 2020 census, making it the principal city of the Roseburg, Oregon Micropolitan Statistical … See more
Jacksonville is a historical 19th-century Gold Rush town. A lot of people don’t know that Oregon had a gold rush and silver rush as well – just not as well known. And there are working wines to this day. The town reminds me of Old Town Alexandria and old towns across the country, including downtown Medford, Bend, and Old Town Sacramento.
It is a popular retirement community. Ten miles to Medford, and Ashland.
Lots of nice restaurants and classic bed and breakfast country inns, and easy access to wineries.
The Brit festival has an amazing lineup for a minor out-of-the-way music festival. They attract a lot of acts who add on a night at the Brit Festival which is becoming a big thing to their Portland, Eugene of Sacramento bookings.
We just missed Diana Ross
We saw Big Toad and the Monsters and Blues Travelers. Both were pretty good. Big Todd was a bit more mainstream rock, blues travelers remind me of The Grateful Dead, Phish, and Rush, with similar style and fanatical fan base. The lead singer is a great blues harmonica player.
Phoenix
Phonex Oregon is a suburb of Medford just south of the city. It has Home Depot and a few other big box stores and a few wineries and truck stop and RV parks. It was heavily damaged in the 2020 fire.
The area was settled in about 1850 by brothers Hiram and Samuel Colver. Samuel Colver laid out the town in 1854. Early residents included Milton Lindley, who operated a sawmill that provided timbers in 1855 for a blockhouse as well as a flouring mill owned by Sylvester M. Wait. For a time, the settlement was known locally as Gasburg after a talkative employee in the kitchen serving the mill hands. Wait, who was an agent for the Phoenix Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut, assigned the official name, Phoenix, to the community and, in 1857, to its post office. Waitsburg, Washington, was later named after Wait.[6]
2020 fire
On September 8, 2020, much of Phoenix, along with neighboring Talent and parts of Medford and Ashland, were destroyed by the Almeda Drive Fire.[7][8][9][10] On September 11, 2020, authorities said they were preparing for a mass fatality incident.[11] On September 11, it was reported that 600 homes and 100 commercial buildings have been destroyed by the Almeda Drive Fire,[12] but on September 18, that number was updated to 2,800.[13] Officials stated that the Almeda Drive Fire was human-caused.[12] On September 11, a man was arrested for arson, for allegedly starting a fire that destroyed multiple homes in Phoenix and merged with the Almeda Drive Fire.[14] A separate criminal investigation into the origin point of the Almeda Drive Fire in Ashland is ongoing.[14]
Portland
The biggest city in Oregon and a very hip and trendy town. Center of Oregon’s Asian, African-American, Hispanic, and LGBTQ communities. Because Oregon does not have a sale tax and Washington does not have an income tax, many savvy retirees live in Vancouver, Washington just across the river from Portland, and do the bulk of their shopping there. Portland is one of the few cities that still has a vibrant shopping center near downtown. It also has the world’s largest bookstore – which I will visit on my next trip, several innovative universities including Lewis and Clark and Reed, as well as Portland State and Oregon’s sole medical university the Oregon State Medical University which has dental, both oriental medicine, western medicine, Physical therapy and nursing schools. 80 percent of the State lives within the metro area, which has the only real mass transit in Oregon. It also has one of the best urban park systems in the world, great local beer and Kombucha breweries and hundreds of nearby wineries, and of course lots of cannabis shops everywhere. It is about an hour’s drive to Bend and an hour’s drive to the coast, and four to five hours to Medford.
Named after Portland, Maine,[11] which is itself named after the English Isle of Portland, the Oregon settlement began to be populated in the 1840s, near the end of the Oregon Trail. Its water access provided convenient transportation of goods, and the timber industry was a major force in the city’s early economy. At the turn of the 20th century, the city had a reputation as one of the most dangerous port cities in the world, a hub for organized crime and racketeering. After the city’s economy experienced an industrial boom during World War II, its hard-edged reputation began to dissipate. Beginning in the 1960s,[12] Portland became noted for its growing liberal and progressive political values, earning it a reputation as a bastion of counterculture.[13]
The city operates with a commission-based government, guided by a mayor and four commissioners, as well as Metro, the only directly elected metropolitan planning organization in the United States.[14][15] Its climate is marked by warm, dry summers and cool, rainy winters. This climate is ideal for growing roses, and Portland has been called the “City of Roses” for over a century.[16]
P. Talent, an East Tennessee native who settled in Oregon in the 1870s, platted the city in the 1880s. He wanted to name it Wagner but was overruled by postal officials, who preferred Talent, dropping one of the L’s. The post office opened at this location in 1883. Earlier names for the settlement were Eden District and Wagner Creek.[5]
On September 8, 2020, roughly a third of Talent, along with neighboring Phoenix and parts of Medford and Ashland, were destroyed by the Almeda Drive Fire.[6][7][8][9] On September 11, 2020, authorities said they were preparing for a mass fatality incident.[10] As of September 11, 600 homes and 100 commercial buildings have been destroyed by the Almeda Drive Fire,[11] but on September 18, that number was updated to 2,800.[12] Officials stated that the Almeda Drive Fire was human-caused.[11] On September 11, a man was arrested for arson, for allegedly starting a fire that destroyed multiple homes in Phoenix and merged with the Almeda Drive Fire.[13] A separate criminal investigation into the origin point of the Almeda Drive Fire in Ashland is ongoing.[13]
White City
White City is a small but upcoming city. It is based on a World War 11 Army camp that closed down in the 50s. There is a big regional Veterans hospital center and because of that has drawn a lot of military retirees to the valley.
There is a rumor that the city was called White City and was supposed to be a whites-only city. It was the center of KKK activity between 1880 and 1940. In any event it has the largest minority population in the Rogue Valley due to the relatively inexpensive rents.
Oregon is mostly white about 80 percent but there are a lot of Hispanics and Asians in Portland a thriving African American community of 80 percent lives in the Portland Willamette Valley down to Eugune and Salem the State Capitol.
Indian Casinos
There are numerous Indian casinos in Washington, Oregon, and Northern California, and over the years I have lost money in many of them. This summer we will visit at least two. An Indian Casino is planned for Medford, opening perhaps in 2025. The nearest casinos to Medford are about an hour or two northwest and southwest of the city along the coast.
Indian History
The Indian tribes of Oregon and California were almost wiped out in the Indian wars of the 19th century. Most of the tribes were forced to move to Idaho or Oklahoma. The remaining tribes struggled with getting Federal and State recognition, benefits, etc. Almost all of them have been recognized by now. Many of the tribes are teaching their language and culture and tribal communities have come back from near death. Many of them have become wealthy due to casinos and the decisions by most tribes of giving every tribal member a monthly stipend and full scholarships for college and tech institutions. Many tribal members live off their stipends, which depending upon the tribe can be quite generous as they usually tax the casinos about 10 percent of their income stream, returning it all to the benefit of the tribes, and investing a lot of it as well…
Southern Oregon has emerged as a major winery region with over 125 between Roseburg and Ashland. Most are in the Applegate Valley west of 1-5 and west of Jacksonville and Medford. Some are nearer Roseburg-Grants Pass. There are a number in a town near Ashland, Jacksonville, Medford, Phoenix, and Talent. Southern Oregon is also a craft beer town and an kombucha town. and there are lots of farmers markets and organic groceries in town including several 24/7 groceries. There are cannabis shops everywhere now.
Owned by friends of our friends. They have a good menu as well as wine tasting and they often have live music. Three swans live on the lake. And a goose who was raised with the swans and thinks he is a swan. The winery also has cottages for rent.
Oregon Poems
Wagontire Oregon
1973
In 1973, I went on a road trip With my father
We left Berkeley to go to Yakima Where my father had a summer cabin
He was a college professor And had July and August off
And we spent the summers Every summer from 1968 to 1978 Our whole dysfunctional family
Our annual road trip to hell and back
As we did not get along at all
We decided to drive through Eastern Oregon
Just my father and me Just for the hell of it
The rest of the family was already there
in Washington waiting for us
My father and I shared a travel lust One of the few things we shared
This was one of our best trips We got along
Which was unusual Normally our relationship
Was fraught As we were so different
We left Klamath Falls A real nothing burg in those days
And headed east along Highway 395 As we entered the desert of eastern Oregon
We entered a different world High mountain desert
Almost no one on the road
nothing on the radio
but country music
and talk radio from KGO in SF
my father and I bonded Learned a lot about his past
What he liked And did not like
He hated country music But loved news radio
And we talked about politics And life in general
Just a father and son Enjoying a rare
Father-son Bonding moment
We usually did not get each other
I inherited too much Of my Mother’s wild Irish personality
To suit his dour Norwegian Germanic personality
Then we saw the sign
Wagontire Oregon
100 miles ahead Burma shave
We counted down the signs Miles after miles As we drove into the gathering dusk
along with the wagon tire countdown
were other signs last gas for x miles
and the Burma Shave roadside signs
with their classic cowboy poetry slogans
which in 1975 were already
becoming a thing of the past
had not seen those since this road trip
but on this road they still had them
every mile Burma Shave signs
We speculated that Wagontire
Must be a giant truck stop In the middle of nowhere
And we drove on
Counting down the signs
Listening to dreadful country music And endless political news
Wagontire 100 miles ahead
And we drove on Counting down the signs
Listening to dreadful country music And endless political news
Wagontire 100 miles ahead ……………………………………..
Burma Shave
Wagontire 1 Mile ahead Last Chance Gas, Food, lodging next gas 200 miles Welcome to Wagontire, Oregon
Population 2 ½ humans 10 dogs, 50,000 sheep
We pulled into the town
Nothing there but a gas station Motel and café
We decided to stop
Last gas for 200 miles According to the highway signs
In the morning We chatted with the owner
He was the sheriff, the fire chief The owner of the motel, gas station
The only business in town
And the only place open For two hundred miles
Until the next town
John Day I believe
I asked the Sherriff Say, who is the ½ human?
My idiot son!
And we left.
200 miles later We finally left Eastern Oregon
2016
In 2016 my wife and I drove through Eastern Oregon
As part of our epic cross-country trip
first time for her in Eastern Oregon Idaho, Montana Wyoming and many other states
last time I had visited was during my epic road trip with my father summer of 1973
10,000 miles 31 states
in three months to celebrate my retirement
from the US Foreign Service
On the way from Medford
to Yellowstone We drove along Highway 395
The signs for Wagontire were gone And we drove through the town
The motel was abandoned
Nothing there at all
And that sign was gone too
and the Burma shave signs long ago
faded into lost Americana
On the radio Nothing but country
Right-wing talk shows And Christian radio
I said I suppose the idiot son Never took over the business
And we speculated about Wagontire And all other nothing burgs
We drove through that summer
Heart of Trump’s America True fly-over country
Travels with my Father
Prose Poem Version
I grew up in Berkeley, California in the 60s and 70s, graduating from high school in 1974. My father was a local politician, college professor, and economist who served in DC under President Kennedy and Johnson. He and I did not get along that much, he was a distant aloof person hard to get to know, although I admired him and agreed with him on political issues for the most part. He was a moderate democrat which in Berkeley made him a conservative a curse word in the hyper-partisan Berkeley political scene.
One thing we did share was the love of travel and road trips. My father had inherited a summer cabin near Yakima, Washington, and from an early age to when I was 20, I spent most summers in the cabin with my father, my mother, my brothers, and my sister and visiting my uncle and his family. We were a dysfunctional family, always bickering and did not get along at all. Our road trips were fun actually despite our dysfunctional family dynamics.
We made several memorable trips over the years. We drove across the country twice from DC to California both times taking the northern route and stopping off in Yakima before returning to California. Along the way stopping off at Yellowstone, Grand Teton, etc. On one trip we went through Canada stopping off in Montréal, Toronto, Calgary, the Canadian Rockies, and Vancouver. We were 90 miles from the Alaskan border and my father decided we were not going to go to Alaska although we all begged him to do so. It took me almost 50 years before I finally got to Alaska, on a cruise, and I thought Meh was overrated and not for me. But still, I would have liked to have seen it when I was 11 years old.
One summer we drove just my father and me to Yakima and we drove through eastern Oregon just for the hell of it. We drove down a lonely country highway dubbed the loneliness highway in America that started in Nevada and goes through eastern Oregon and Eastern Washington the Nevada and Oregon sections are among the least densely populated areas in the United States. We started noticing signs for Wagon Tire, Oregon, with signs like 99 miles to Wagon Tire’s last services for 200 miles. 99 98 97 every milepost had two signs to Wagon tire and a Burma Shave sign. Burma Shave signs were a feature of the American West from 1920 to 1974 when the interstate highway system ended most roadside billboard advertisements, and the Burma Shave company ceased as an independent company the Burma Shave billboards were cowboy poetry at its best three to five short tanka like advertisements like
Drivers, You must remember this Driving fast Kills you fast
Burma Shave
When we got there, we found a run-down motel/gas station, cafe, and general store. We spent the night; we were the only customers as it was mid-week. We had noticed a sign-out front
“Welcome to Wagon tire
Population
30,000 sheep 20, 000 cows 10,000 pigs 5,000 chickens Thousands of bears, coyotes, deer, elk, and antelope two and one-half people
We asked the owner who had identified himself as the owner, fire chief, sheriff, and landlord what the sign, two and one-half people meant. He said,
“Oh me, my wife, and my idiot son, that’s the half person.”
In 2016 when I drove across the country with my wife to celebrate retiring from the foreign service we drove through Wagontire, which entire was now a ghost town with signs for sale. I wonder if anyone bought the store? And whether anyone lives there anymore. In any event, the idiot son never carried out the family business.
Travels with My Father Free verse
I grew up in Berkeley California My father was a local politician, college professor,
we did not get along that much he was a distant aloof person hard to get to know,
although I admired him and agreed with him on political issues
One thing we did share was the love of travel and road trips.
My father had a summer cabin near Yakima, Washington, and from an early age to when I was 20
I spent most summers in the cabin with my father, my mother, my brothers, and my sister and visiting my uncle and his family.
We were a dysfunctional family, always bickering and did not get along at all.
Our road trips were fun actually despite our dysfunctional family dynamics.
One summer My father and I drove through eastern Oregon just for the hell of it.
We drove down Highway 395 dubbed the loneliness highway in America
the Nevada and Oregon sections are among the least densely populated areas in the United States.
Outside of Klamath Falls As we entered Oregon High desert outback
We started noticing signs for Wagon Tire, Oregon, with signs like
99 miles to the Wagon tire last services for 200 miles. 99 98 97 every milepost had two signs a sign to Wagon tire and a Burma Shave sign.
Burma Shave signs were a feature of the American West from 1920 to 1974 when the interstate highway system ended most roadside billboard advertisements,
and the Burma Shave company ceased as an independent company
the Burma Shave billboards were cowboy poetry at its best
three to five short tanka like advertisements like
“Drivers, You must remember this Driving fast Kills you fast
Burma Shave”
When we got there we found a run-down motel/gas station, cafe, and general store.
We spent the night. we were the only customers as it was mid-week.
We had noticed a sign-out front
“Welcome to Wagon tire
Population
30,000 sheep 20, 000 cows 10,000 pigs 5,000 chickens Thousands of bears, coyotes, deer, elk, and antelope 2 and one-half people
We asked the owner who had identified himself? as the owner, fire chief, sheriff, and landlord
what is the sign, two and one-half people meant.
He said,
“Oh me, my wife, and my idiot son, that’s the half person.”
In 2016 when I drove across the country with my wife to celebrate retiring from the foreign service
we drove through Wagontire, which was now a ghost town with signs for sale.
I wonder if anyone bought the store? And whether anyone lives there anymore. In any event, the idiot son never carried out the family business.
Note: according to Wikipedia there are still a few people living in Wagon Tire. When we drove through in 2016 it sure looked like a Ghost town.
Wagontire is an unincorporated community in Harney County, Oregon, United States, along U.S. Route 395.
The community was named after the nearby Wagon Tire Mountain. From 1986 to at least 1997, Wagon Tire was home to just two people: William and Olgie Warner. The Warners’ property included a gas station, cafe, motel, general store, and r… Wikipedia · Text under CC-BY-SA license
BING AI seems to think that Wagontire might be a Ghost town but as far as I know, it is not yet listed on the state list of ghost towns.
Burma-Shave was an American brand of brushless shaving cream, famous for its advertising gimmick of posting humorous rhyming poems on small sequential highway roadside signs.
Burma-Shave was introduced in 1925 by the Burma-Vita company in Minneapolis owned by Clinton Odell. The company’s original product was a liniment made of ingredients described as having come “from the Malay Peninsula and Burma” (hence its name).[1] Sales were sparse, and the company sought to expand sales by introducing a product with wider appeal. the Burma Shave signs were written in cowboy poetry style three lines with Burma Shave as the fourth tag lines.
The signs were everywhere as the automobile era commenced. The last signs disappeared with the opening on the interstate highway system which banned outdoor billboards.
Seattle UW Blues
I have a long history
with the city of Seattle
dating back to my grandparents
who met there at UW
and my father who attended UW
and became a student leader
fighting to integrate the University
I first visited the city
when I was a young man
when we spend the summer
in Yakima
where we had a family home
decades later I visited the city
before I went to the Peace Corps
Before I went to the Peace Corps
then my wife and I lived there
for four years
while we were attending graduate school
at the University
and we fell under its seductive spell
living and Breathing Seattle
falling in love again
with the city
we left the city
and traveled the world
came back twice
once to take and pass the foreign service
oral exam
and once decades later
to take a cruise to Alaska
and found that the city
had changed in many ways
but the old Seattle remained
and I wanted to come back
and now my nephew lives there
adding another element to our family’s
ongoing Seattle family history
why I had been there before
I cannot say, but this much I do know
Seattle remains a part of me
and I a part of its history
Because of You, I’m In A Seattle Kind Of Mood
Because of you, I’m in a Seattle kind of mood
When I look out my window
And see the rain drops gently falling all around
And I feel that special Seattle kind of chill
In my bones
I think of you with a Seattle kind of mood
In the morning
Wherever I am in this crazy world if I see raindrops
Gently falling all around
Blue mood dissolves in the rain’s gentle mist
And I cry out with all my heart
Because of you
I am in a Seattle kind of mood
As I walk down the street
In distant foreign lands
Whether I am in Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo, or Seoul
New York, Moscow, Rome, or San Francisco
Whether I am in India, China, Thailand, or Europe
Whenever I feel the rain’s gentle embrace
I get into that Seattle kind of mood
Seattle, a Seattle kind of mood
Fresh Salmon sizzling over a hickory smoke fire
Ivar’s clam chowder
And Red Hook Ale Pike Place market
Bums in Pioneer Square
And angry hippies preaching in Red Square
Yuppies drinking downtown
Geeks in Redmond
Making the world safe
For the Microsoft King
And the Mariners lose again
While the Huskies dream of Rose Bowls to come
And everywhere rain falls down
oh yeah
A Seatt1e kind of mood
Because of you
I get into that Seattle kind of mood
In the morning
As I fight the horrendous traffic
And breathe in deadly, killer air
I cough, cough, and remember
The green, green air of Seattle
And because of you,
I get into that Seattle kind of mood
Seattle, Seattle, kind of mood
The Huskies are number one in my heart
While the Mariners are always last in the nation
But what the hell
I’m in a Seattle kind of mood
I sit in the International District
Eating Dim Sum and drinking Ballad bitter
Watching the crowds dodge the ever-present raindrops
Seattle Kind of mood
As I wake up each day in crazy foreign lands
I hear the falling raindrops calling me home
Oh why did you leave me they cry out
In a Seattle sort of voice
Whispering in the gently falling rain
Seattle, Seattle kind of mood
And so my Dear
Wherever I roam in this wide planet of ours
From here to entreaty
And beyond
To the red plains of Mars
Whenever I hear the gentle patter of raindrops
I’ll get into that Seattle kind of mood
And dream of spending eternity with you
Watching the Seattle rain
Gently falling on our bumbershoots
As we walk down the beach hand in hand
Digging the gooey ducks while drinking Rainier Ale
All because of you
I’ll always be in the Seattle kind of mood
Medford Beckons
Once boring, humble Medford Oregon
and I have a long history
dating back to my childhood
when we would drive through there
often spending the night
back and forth to Yakima
from our family home in Berkeley
with my father during our summer vacations
Medford back in the day
was a sleepy little town
but the biggest town around
Ashland was more famous
but Medford grew on me
decades later my wife
Decades later my wife
and I drove through there
as we yo-yo up and down
the coast going from Seattle
where we were graduate students
and Berkeley to visit my family
we bought five pieces of property
in Medford in 1990
and were absentee landlords
for almost thirty years
coming back every few years
finally coming back in 2016
renovating the property
and now we are spending
our summers there
and preparing to become
Oregonian residents
Medford humble boring Medford
has become a trendy place
we have become part of Medford
and Medford is part of our hearts and soul
I am now an Oregonian
complete with a beard, no ties, and Western shirts
and my love affair with this humble city
will continue to grow
as my life winds down
in Medford city of my soul
Yakima Dessert Blues
Yakima, Washington
The ancestral home of my father’s family since 1920
Kept alive in my family’s history
Went back and forth like a Yo-Yo between Yakima
and the Bay area, mostly when I was a young man
In 2019, I visited the ghosts at my father’s grave
I did not realize how much Yakima had not changed
Ever since I was a child I thought that Yakima
Simply was too much of a desert outpost
Even then I knew why my father had led the town
Rarely did I think that my father would want to return
That he did over and over until the day he died
But for me, the Yakima of my childhood no longer remained
The lesson learned from all of this is Yakima remains in my heart
Until the day I die, I know that my family’s history in Yakima
Even now Yakima the desert town of my father will not be
Remains a foreign outpost and is not anymore for me
The Lighthouse of Whispers
35
Sam Adams, a paranormal researcher For the Cosmos Institute in Berkeley
Received reports Of a mysterious event In Brandon, Oregon Along the coast
A mysterious lighthouse Appeared one night Flashing red lights
Several locals went inside To investigate And came out different
Sam and his team Arrived and talked To everyone in town
But no one wanted To say what Was going on
They went to the lighthouse And found inside a gateway
With a sign
“Gateway to other worlds Enter at your own risk For madmen only.”
Saying,
“what the hey”
They entered the gateway Came back differently too.
Joining the rest of the town As members of the alien Hive mind.
Sam wrote back Nothing to see here Just an empty old lighthouse.
Soon other mysterious lighthouses Caves and buildings appeared Everywhere.
As the body snatchers Spread out Infecting the whole world.
Until there were only A few feral humans Hiding from the hive mind.
Check out the new prompt in “The Writer’s Cramp” – write the best story or poem in 24 hours or less and you will win 10,000 GPs AND a Merit Badge from me!!
” WINNER AND NEW PROMPT DUE SATURDAY MAY 21″ 16 hours 25 minutes 45 seconds Today’s prompt comes from Chatbot <insert spooky music here>
In a small coastal town, a mysterious lighthouse suddenly appears overnight. Its beacon shines with an otherworldly glow, captivating the locals. As people begin to investigate, they discover that the lighthouse holds a secret power. Write a story about this enchanted lighthouse.
The title of your static item must be: The Lighthouse of Whispers
Growing up
In Berkeley
My family seldom went out
For a meal together
My Father and Mother
Depression babies
Were extremely frugal
Not wanting
to waste money.
Once in a while
Though particularly
On our family road trips,
We would enjoy a meal together
One of our best meals ever
Was in an Italian restaurant
In the town of Medford, Oregon
On the way to Yakima, Washington
To go to our summer cabin
In the woods
A two-day road trip
From our family home
In Berkeley, California.
We ordered pasta pesto
Combo Pizza with all the meats Lemon ice cream
And the first time
I ever cappuccino
They ran out
Of everything
Late at night
In a small town.
An hour later
It all came together
And was one
Of our best times
Together.
A rare event
For a dysfunctional family
On the road.
Today’s winner is:
This Task (E)
Searching for that needle in a haystack.
#2295842 by Dave (929)
New Prompt: Use in your poem or story – BOLD or colorize for tomorrow’s judge:
An Italian restaurant
pasta pesto
lemon ice cream
cappuccino
Use food as your genre.
The Mystery of Sam Adams’s Death Writers’ Cramp
38
Sam Adams was a paranormal detective
For the Cosmos Institute in Berkeley, California
A real-life X files funded by black CIA money
Their mission explaining the unexplainable
Explaining the paranormal
Exposing hoaxes and fraudulent claims
Of the supernatural
One day his uncle died and left him
An old haunted house in Eagle Creek, Oregon
A small southern Oregon town
That Sam had grown up in.
He had not been back
In decades as he had grown up
In a dysfunctional family
Spoke to his siblings once a year
His father and mother have long gone.
In the house, they found the dead body
Of his distant eccentric uncle
Who left beside his body,
A letter, his will, and the infamous Neromicron
A book bound in scarlet leather.
The letter ended,
“Turn to page 666, and recite the chants
The truth will set you free.”
He started chanting
A spinning scarlet portal appeared
The grim reaper walked through.
Sam Adams asked him
“What happened to my uncle”
The grim reaper said
“He got what was coming to him
As all who summons us to do.
Be prepared to meet your maker
For judgment day is at hand”.
Sam spends the night
At the mansion where his uncle had left him
Sorting through his stuff.
The next morning a crater
Was found where the house had stood.
And his notes left behind
The scarlet leather bond Necromicron
Solved the mysteries of his uncle’s death
And his disappearance.
On Dec 1st, 1887, the first Sherlock Holmes story, “A Study in Scarlet”, appeared in print.
Write a poem or story in which:
* The narrator/POV character is a detective (or his assistant)
* A mystery is solved by the end of the piece
* One of the clues used to solve the mystery is scarlet
One of your genres must be MYSTERY
NB: The mystery can be ‘traditional’ (e.g. solving a murder), more light-hearted (who stole my socks?), or even more abstract (figuring out the cause of galaxies’ redshift).
Evil Spirit Haunts Oregon Town
In an old, haunted house
Along the Oregon coast
An evil spirit emerges
Unleashing a tidal wave
Of terror in the town
Ripping off
the torn curtains in the house
fallen mask fall off
as madness descends
on the unsuspecting town.
Please select “Ghost” as one of your genres.
A strange Place Writing com
Sam Adams was a paranormal researcher for the Cosmos Institute based in Berkeley, California. They considered themselves the real X files and worked for various governmental and other institutions. No story was too outrageous. They believed that the truth was out there-really out there. They mostly uncovered hoaxes, scams, and grifts, but once in a while, they uncovered things that could not be explained. These x files made great stories, and Sam and his buddies were dreaming of writing a movie based on their exploits.
One of the strangest events they ever encountered took place in the small Oregon town of Eagle Creek outside of Medford, Oregon, 20 miles north of the California border. Sam Adams had grown up there and had family in the area.
One day he heard that his Uncle had died and left him some property, an old, abandoned farmhouse rumored to be a haunted house where cultists conducted secret rites.
He went to Oregon with his two workmates, Maria Kim and Jason Lee, who were a couple, and his best friends. They got to town, met Sandra the realtor, got the key, and went to the house at sunset. The realtor told them,
“I’ve lived here all my life, but that is a strange place you inherited. Be careful.”
They got out and looked around
Sam said,
“This is a strange place.”
They decided to spend the night in town, but Sam wanted to stick around a bit longer so Maria and Jason went to find Oregon beer, wine and kombucha, and food, and they would dine al fresco in the park down the street.
When they got back shortly after sunset, they found the house and Sam was missing. There was just a big hole in the ground where the house had stood.
Prompt for 8/15 Write a story that includes the Line, “I’ve live here all my life.”
Prompt for 8/14
Write a story that includes the line: “This is a strange place.”
Jason Lee the Fashion Violator
37 lines
Jason Lee was a man
Born without the fashion gene
Born without a fashion clue
Did not understand fashion.
In his mind, the best male fashion was
the Northwest grunge look
Well-worn khaki, plaid Pendleton shirt
boots, and perhaps a bolo tie.
He often thought
That the irony of his life
Was that he married a fashionista.
Proving that opposites do indeed attract.
His wife, Maria Lee
Tried repeatedly to change his fashion sense,
Tried to make him look nice
Taught him basic color coordination.
He resisted but over time
He gradually become
A bit more fashioned aware
Even spent years wearing a suit and tie.
She threw out his horrid ties
Which made him angry
He loved his garish bugs bunny ties.
But when they retired
and they move to Oregon
from the halls of power in DC,
He told her that he would never wear a suit again,
Going back to the Oregon lumberjack look
Khaki or Jeans, boots or sneakers, plaid Pendleton shirt.
complete with a scraggly beard.
She merely smiled at him,
Finally resigned herself
to her fate as the wife of a man
who would always
be a walking fashion violation.
Favorite Cheese PSH
My favorite cheese
Has always been Tillamook
cheddar cheese
My father turned me
On to it
When I was a young lad
Once during our annual
Migration from Berkeley
To Yakima
During the summer vacation
Season
When we drove to the family cabin
And stayed almost two months
Just my father,
My mother
My two brothers
My sister
Our whole dysfunctional family
Forced to be together
For the summer
It was hell on earth
But the road trip
To and from
Was and adventure
One year we drove
Up the Oregon coat
And we stopped
At the Tillamook creamery
And did the tour
Learned how they made
Their famous cheese
And ice cream
Tillamook cheese
Is made in Tillamook, Oregon
A small town
Along the Oregon coast
The cheese is dark yellow
Comes in two flavors
Sharp and regular
I prefer the sharp.
It has a delightful aroma
And is among the most
Favorable of cheeses
I have ever eaten.
And it has an aftertaste
That lingers in your mouth
For several minutes
As you savor
The aroma, the taste
And the texture
Taking you to cheese
heaven
I was perhaps 13
At the time
And interested
In everything
Learned a lot
About cheese
That visit
But the most important thing
Was I learned
That was my favorite cheese
Tillamook. Cheese.
The end of the year
We drove to Bookings on the Oregon Coast
We had a pleasant drive through the mystic fog shrouded Redwoods.
The gathering gloom of the dark woods foretold my dismal mood
Slept soundly to the sound of the ocean.
The super moon light filled
the beach outside our window
with an eerie light all night long.
As we slept people walked the beach
Enjoying the full moon
And the unusually warm weather
Setting off fireworks at midnight
In the morning I went for a nice walk along the beach
and thought about the year that was.
As the waves pounded the shore
I was filled with calmness
Enjoying the morning calm
And the unusually warm weather
Thinking that the storm is coming
That perhaps we are in the end of our days
With the political storms threatening us all
Yet the ocean reminded me
This too will pass
And we will endure
Until the end of our time
On earth
The ocean waves soothed my soul
And I prepared to drive back through the mystic redwoods
Back to my home
And the peaceful ocean waves
Reminded me
the end of my life
Comes closer to my door
published in Former People
Oregon Demon Cat
evil cat
The demon cat
Lived in Medford Oregon
The demon cat was a big black cat
His eyes were filled with demonic energy
He stared at you
Looking into your very soul
Filled with anger, and hatred
For the entire human race
He seemed at times
To be not from this planet
Perhaps an alien species
Studying the human race
Or perhaps he came
Form hell itself
The demon cat loved to torment visitors
For some reason he hated the man’s daughter
The cat would stare at her from his perch
Down the hall from the old man
Then he would run at her
Screaming like an escaped banshee
Straight out of hell
She told her dad
Either the cat goes
Or I go
He said
See you later
The demon cat smiled
At the small victory
And she left the house
With the demon cat
Screeching good bye
I am a member of Earth First, based in Seattle. We decide that we will do one action per month to radically change the environment and generate publicity for our efforts and gain recruits.
After much discussion, we decide to liberate all the animals being used for testing at UW medical school and in other labs in the city and to free the animals in Zoo. We would take the animals out to the woods outside of town and let them run free.
We plan our attack with great care and we strike with military precision in the middle of the night one week and liberate 5,000 animals. We release the animals and film them on U Tube. The U-Tube goes viral.
The animals run free and soon establish themselves in the forests near Seattle. The Tigers and lions soon breed and become established eating deer and other animals. The monkeys move into the city and the City of Seattle soon becomes their home. The monkeys do very well and even survive the winter.
They soon become a tourist attraction. The zoo is closed down as they can’t afford to round up the animals who have all gone native. The UW Medical School denied that they were engaging in animal testing so we publish their secret research online.
It is a great victory for Earth First. Other animal liberation actions take place across the country.
Within five years monkey troops have become established throughout the US. Lions and Tigers have also flourished eating deer and helping to keep deer populations in check. There were isolated lion and tiger attacks on humans but for the most part, the lions and tigers stick to deer meat.
Other animals also flourished – Elephants take to the Central Valley and most of the African animals we had released were released into the Central Valley which became known as America’s Serengeti.
The wild animals become a huge tourist attraction.
Ft. Ashland
Novel
First Three Chapters
Chapter One Best Day of Sam’s Life Ends as Worst Day of His Life
Sam Adams was having the best day of his life, he had made love to Maria for the first time since he had met her a few weeks ago and felt he had met his soul mate. They stayed up until midnight when the world ended, and the worst years of their lives began.
Sam Adams was a tenured professor at Southern Oregon State University teaching English literature. He had been at the University for five years and had just gotten tenure. Sam was 35 years old. He had grown up in Berkeley, California, and gotten his BA in English literature at CAL.
Sam had gone on for a Ph.D. at Bowling Green University in Ohio where he did his Ph.D. thesis on “End of the World Fiction”. had divided the genre into five basic scenarios, “Nuclear War”, “Zombie Apocalypse,” “End of Power, Oil or other critical infrastructure”, “alien invasion” or other natural disasters – climate change, super volcanoes, new ice age, meteor collision, etc. His favorite though was “nuclear war” because he felt that was the most likely to occur, his least favorite was “zombie apocalypse” which he felt was too far-fetched. Climate change was also a good one to study because it was beginning to take shape in real life. The others were “black swan events, ” civilization-ending but unlikely to ever occur.
In these scenarios, 90 percent of humanity dies within three months as no one was prepared for the collapse of civilization. Only a few smaller communities would survive intact. Any town bigger than 30,000 would end up with most people dead, with a ruthless warlord in charge of the remaining people who would be virtual slaves. He had just finished writing Ft. Ashland which was his vision of how Ashland could survive the end of the world. The Police chief, the Mayor, and the President of the University loved the book. They were all part of Sam’s weekly poker party and had all agreed to be beta readers for his first novel, “Ft. Ashland.” The Police Chief appointed Sam to be chair of the citizen’s emergency action planning committee and had asked him to map out various scenarios for consideration by the town council at next month’s council meeting. The council would review the various plans and scenarios and adopt the official joint-city-University EAP. The country director for Emergency planning would be there as she was on the committee. They planned to adopt a similar countrywide plan based on the Ashland prototype. Sam had based his plans on both the official DHS-recommended state and local planning documents as well as his review of the Emergency planning literature as well as SF stories. He thought that many of the post-world war stories were quite relevant and he incorporated ideas from the best of the literature. Sam would reveal the various plans and then direct the first city-university joint emergency planning drill where they would walk through various scenarios. Little did Sam know he would have to carry out the drill in real life.
But that was fate Sam thought later that eventful night. Someone was looking out for him and the town he was sure. Sam did not believe in guardian angels. He had grown up in a secular family. His mother had grown up in a Southern Baptist fundamentalist church and had fled home from Arkansas in the dust bowl. She was part Irish, and part Cherokee and pure witch as Sam often thought as she was psychic and mad. But in a good way, although she later developed Alzheimer’s and spent the last few years of her life in an assisted living facility. His father had grown up in a stern Lutheran family in Yakima, Washington. He was of German, Scandinavian, and French background.
Sam was enjoying living in Ashland which he had visited as an undergraduate to see the Shakespeare plays. He had been hired by the English Department to modernize their curriculum which had been heavily focused on Elizabethan literature as many of the students and faculty were associated with the Festival in one manner or another and they had become well known as one of the best English Departments for that sort of literature. Sam and his colleague Jonathon Goodman, who was from Nigeria, had been told to develop classes on contemporary literature. Sam taught SF, Fantasy, Thriller, Mystery, and contemporary literary literature. He also taught the creative writing program.
Maria, his new finance, was also 35 years old. She had grown up in India and was from Goa, most people assumed she was Hispanic or Portuguese because of her name, Maria Francesca De Lopez, and her looks. Her father was the son of a Portuguese colonial administrator who married a local woman and stayed on after India took over Goa. They were due to arrive in town in a few weeks as Maria and Sam had just announced their marriage. Sam had to agree to convert to Catholicism and to have a church wedding followed by a honeymoon in Goa, his first trip to his fiancé’s native country. And Sam knew that she believed in Guardian angels. She had told him that on his first date when they had a passionate debate about religion. Sam had expressed his doubts and his reservations about Christianity, and she had defended her faith. At the end of the night, they reached an agreement. Sam would be welcome to attend Church or not. She would go every Sunday for mass. She would respect his atheistic heathen ways if he respected her Catholic ways. If they had a child, the child would be told that he can make up his mind whether to be a believer or not. They would raise their child in church but on their 18th birthday would make their case to their child. The child would then choose, and they would respect the child’s opinion on the matter.
Maria had moved to town last year to accept a position at the local hospital as director of Emergency services. She had just graduated from the University of Washington and had served in a hospital in Portland getting her residency completed so she knew that she wanted to be in Oregon. Her cousin ran the local Indian restaurant and had invited her to come down to Ashland. When she got there, she found that there was an opening as the ER director at the Asante Community Hospital, the biggest and best hospital in Ashland, and she took the position. Sam had gotten to know her through his work on the Emergency Planning Committee (EPC) which he co-chaired with Maria. Maria also loved his story, “Ft. Ashland” but thought that it was a bit too pessimistic.
That night they had gone to see a play at the Oregon Cabaret as the festival had just ended. It was a few weeks before Thanksgiving, just before Veterans Day. And next to the end of the hunting season. Although Ashland was a “blue city”, large parts of Oregon were “red states” especially up in Medford. And even in Ashland there were a lot of hunters, and some of the students disappeared to go hunting as well.
Maria had finally agreed to spend the night together with him and had accepted his proposal of marriage made at the Taj Indian Cuisine. The owner, Samuel Lopez Gomez, was a distant cousin of Maria. Maria had hinted that she thought that Sam was going to propose and wanted to surprise him with a traditional Goa dinner. The restaurant was known through the Indian community in Southern Oregon as the only place to go for traditional Goan food as all the other restaurants served the more common Moghul or North Indian fare and the Indian Kitchen in Medford served South Indian food as well as the stereotypical North Indian fare. The Taj served both Maharashtra, Gujarat, southern Indian style food and their specialty, Goan food – as well as the expected North Indian fare.
After dinner, Sam called Samuel over to the table and told him,
“I think it is only fitting that you serve as a witness since you are Maria’s cousin’s brother. And Sam dropped to his knees and said,
“Maria Francesca De Lopez Gomez, will you marry me, Samuel Joseph Adams?”
“ Of course.”
And they went to the Oregon Cabaret to see “She Loves Me”.
They walked home from the theater in the rain and snow (early for snow) to their cottage on B and First Street down the street from the Ashland Co-op and just a few blocks from the theaters.
Maria told Sam
“Let’s call it a night. Tomorrow let’s plan our life together. I think we both know we are the one for each other and let’s pledge to each other that we will always remember this night, and always remember the love that we feel right now and that we will always be there for each other. I think we both know we are the one for each other and let’s pledge to each other that we will always remember this night, and always remember the love that we feel right now and that we will always be there for each other until death does us apart. “
“Okale dokoli honey bun.”
“Wait. Are you going all Ned Flanders on me? I always thought of you as more of a Homer Simpson guy and I would be your Marge.”
“Whatever.”
“Nope. We cannot ever use the phrase “whatever or dismissive language. You as a professor of English should know that words matter.”
“Okay, no whatever. Can I respond?”
“Only if it is said lovingly.”
“Okay. I am asking you a second time, just to be sure you have not changed your mind. Will you, Maria Francesca Lopez De Gomez from Goa marry me, Samuel Jacob Adams, from the People’s Republic of Berkeley?”
“That’s more like it. But I already said yes
But, let’s have some champagne and watch let’s watch the news for a bit. I want to see what happened at the Peace talks. I have a bad feeling about this.”
Chapter Two CNN Broadcasts the End of the World
CNN and the global media live-streamed the end of the world. The world as we knew it ended in a fiery nuclear war that engulfed the entire world killing half the population of the world within the first month of the attacks, and within one year more than 75 percent of mankind was killed. The remainder of humanity hunkered down in small heavily fortified towns scattered in the more rural areas of the world as the major metropolitan cities were all wastelands. The new dark ages began that morning.
The whole world watched in horror as the events spun out of control. It started a few weeks before Thanksgiving, early November. The North Koreans had kept up the pressure on the President as they saw he was becoming more and more unstable with the political scandals threatening to overwhelm his administration.
The attack by the North happened without warning early in November. The North Koreans had announced that they would join five-party talks in Beijing in early November. The U. S. Secretary of State and the Foreign Ministers of North Korea, China, Russia, and Japan were all in attendance. The President of China chaired the meeting. As the meeting began, the North Korean foreign minister rose to make his opening statement. He announced that the North Koreans had made a grave decision. He announced that the high command had just approved a nuclear attack on the U.S.
CNN Announcer: “This is Jake Smith, CNN Beijing Bureau Chief with Breaking news from the last chance peace conference. The North Korean Foreign minister has just announced during the opening session of the five-party last chance for peace talks in Beijing that they had launched a nuclear attack against the U.S. targeting the mainland. Going to his remarks now.”
FM Lim Taewoo: “The dotard Trump and his hapless minions have brought this upon themselves. We have said we would be open to discussions to end the conflict peacefully because we do not desire this war. But dotard Trump and his senile henchmen have continued to provoke us by flying their bombers into our airspace. We told them that this was our final warning. But they did not listen to us. So, the war is on them. “
He turned to his South Korean counterpart,
“We have launched a great patriotic war of unification and our artillery are turning Seoul into a sea of fire even as we speak. And we have launched missiles against Japanese targets, and U.S. military facilities in both South Korea, Japan, and Guam as well as in the U.S., mainland. The South Korean government can stop the attacks by agreeing to a total surrender to the Korean People’s liberation army right now.”
The U.S., Japanese, and South Koreans demanded the right to respond.
“The U.S. condemns these cowardly attacks and you must know that you are your leadership have just committed national suicide. We will retaliate at once and know out your artillery and your offensive weapons. Then we will attack North Korean military assets and let there be no doubt if any North Korean missiles reach the U.S. we will destroy North Korea.”
The Secretary turned to the Chinese President and said, “Considering the North Korean actions we demand you join us, Japan, South Korea, and Russia in condemning this attack and that you dismiss the proceedings for the rest of the day and provide us and our colleagues access to secured communications, so we can all check in with our respective capitols to coordinate our responses.”
FM Park Changsu from South Korea spoke next. He said,
“The Republic of Korea will destroy you arrogant bastards and you will not survive the war. We will never surrender to you and will fight you until every North Korean soldier is killed. There is nothing more to be said.”
FM Harshiro Watanabe from Japan spoke last.
“It is unfortunate that it has come to this. But Japan too will never surrender and will fight to the last man, woman, and child to defend Japan. We are ordering bombers to begin bombing North Korean targets in conjunction with our American and South Korean allies. We and the South Korean and U.S. forces will not send ground forces into the north if the Chinese and Russians agree to do so and agree that once hostilities ceased we will reconvene and discuss forming a unified Korean government.”
The Russian FM spoke up,
“The Russian government also condemns the actions of the North Korean regime but also notes that President Trump bears some responsibility for his reckless comments and provocative actions. Nonetheless, we will assist in any way we can including sending armed forces into the North and we will coordinate with the US, Japanese, Chinese, and South Koreans regarding bombing targets. Might I suggest that we after consulting with our respective capitols reconvene to discuss immediate next steps?”
President Xi looked at the assembled diplomats and made his closing comments:
“Indeed, Secretary Moore, the PRC condemns the reckless actions of the North Korean government and asks that they pull back their attacks and cease all hostilities. We also ask that the U.S. not attack North Korea if the North Koreans withdraw their attacks. If the missiles reach the U.S., obviously the U.S. would have the right to respond but the PRC will not tolerate any incursion by ground troops by the U.S., Japan, or South Korea into the North Korean territory. If ground forces are needed to restore order, Russia and China will do in consultation with the South Koreans, the Japanese, and the United States. This concludes today’s formal meeting. We will resume a meeting with just the FMs and military leaders of South Korea, Japan, China, the U.S., and Russia regarding terms of engagement and coordinating air strikes. And we remind everyone that neither China nor Russia will tolerate coalition ground forces north of the DMZ.
We remain ready to resume peace talks if it proves useful. And FM Watanabe after hostilities cease and order had been restored in the North we will not only host a peace conference, we will also hold a war crimes tribunal. And of course, we will support the creation of a unified Korean state. In the meantime, please follow our aides who will escort you to secure communication channels. “
CNN Announcer: “We have breaking news. NORAD has just confirmed that the U.S. appears to be under cyber-attack. The Hoover Dam and Colombia river dams have all burst. All airports appear to have lost power. And traffic management systems across the country are failing. Our local affiliate in Las Vegas is showing the dam bursting.
CNN Las Vegas: Yes, Jim. As you can see from our helicopter coverage the dam has burst and a wall of water 500 feet high is flooding down the river heading towards Las Vegas and Phoenix. It is expected to hit in less than twenty minutes, and power is out all over Las Vegas. Thousands of people are trapped in high rises across the city and as you can see the entire city is black. There is a mandatory shelter-in-place drill = meaning if you can get out of town and into the nearby mountains do so, if not, go to the highest floors of the nearest high rise. The casinos are all operating on emergency power and have announced that they will be giving out free food and booze if they can and free rooms for anyone who needs shelter. Everyone is being directed to floors about 20 floors (the flood waters will hit the 15th floor). The hope is that the high rises will remain to stand, but no one knows for sure.
CNN HDQ: This is Jake Smith, with a breaking announcement. NORAD has announced that there are hundreds of incoming nuclear missiles coming from North Korea, China, and Russia. The Chinese and Russian government has just informed the US that rogue elements in their government are behind the attacks and are joining North Korea in the attack on the U.S. President Putin and President Li have condemned the attacks and are trying to recall as many of the missiles as they can. NORAD has confirmed that the North Koreans took out most of the electric grid in the West in a cyber-attack. And the New York Stock market is under a cyber-attack as well. FEMA estimates that half the country is without power or water and they believe it may be months before water and electricity can restore. We are breaking to Vice Preside Brown who is announcing to the nation.
“My fellow Americans. Today is perhaps the darkest day in recent history. The North Koreans have attacked the U.S. aided by the Russians and the Chinese. As many of you have long suspected, our president, President Johnson has been showing signs of Alzheimer’s, and therefore considering the crisis we are facing, we felt that he should step aside and let more experienced and steadier hands deal with the consequences of the attack. During this crisis, I ask that you keep Donald and his family in your prayers. His heart was in the right place, but it was clear that he would not be able to handle this crisis anymore. And so, under the provisions of the 25th amendment, he has been removed from power and I am now your President.
As your president, my first responsibility is to ensure your safety. To that end, we will keep broadcasting from this undisclosed location if we can. We have evoked the emergency broadcasting notification system, but cable news channels can and will continue broadcasting as long as they can. All other programming will be suspended during the duration of this crisis.
We urge you if you are in one of the 25 cities on the following list to hunker down and prepare for a nuclear attack which will commence in less than ten minutes. Do not look at the bomb bursts and stay underground if possible. Stay home or at your office. Once you receive the all-clear go home and take care of your loved ones, and your neighbors. Remember that we are all Americans and we will survive this.
We have authorized retaliatory strikes against the targets in North Korea, China, and Russia targeting where the missiles were launched, and we have targeted Pyongyang, North Korea. We are not targeting Moscow or Beijing now as we believe that rogue elements in their governments were behind the attacks. The Presidents of Russia and China have assured us that they will find the culprits and deal with them. And they are prepared to help in the recovery.
We have attempted to shoot down some of the incoming missiles and have succeeded in knocking down some of them. But we are prepared to take a direct hit. The cities that we believe are targeted include NYC, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, DC, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Indianapolis, Denver, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Portland, and Seattle. And most air force bases and army bases across the country are potential targets. We are concentrating our anti-missile defenses on protecting these cities, and DC. The entire cabinet and top leadership of the Senate and House are en route to this location which will serve as the central nexus of the recovery efforts. However, once the bombs have hit, the federal government will be short-staffed, so local towns will have to cope the best that they can.
We urge people to be calm, to share resources, and to fight to maintain law and order and to preserve our civilization. That is all. God bless America and keep us strong. We will overcome this with God’s help.
CNN announcer breaks in:
NORAD has just informed us that there are incoming nukes that are about to detonate causing an EMP blast that will knock out the remaining pow….
CNN goes dead as does the EMB system.
Chapter Three Watching the Planes Go Down
It was 1:30 am. Just as the power went off there was a blinding flash of light like the most intense lightning storm ever experienced and then moments later everything electric, – cars, computers, microwaves, blenders, and lights blew out with an intense blue spark and fires broke out all over town.
Thus, began the worst year of their life.
Sam immediately knew what needed to be done. He had just finished writing an SF story about the end of civilization after watching Jericho and realizing that story was way too optimistic. The reality was that an EMP could wipe out industrial civilization for over a thousand years. This was more like the Fall of Rome or the novel, “Dying of the Light”. Same knew because he had done his Ph.D. on post-nuclear war fiction and had just finished writing, Ft Ashland, and also just finished writing the EAP for the City of Ashland and the University.
Sam swore.
“God Damn the President, and Kim Jong-un. WW111 has just started and ended just as I predicted.
Within a week all law and order would break down and armed gangs would rule. Ashland being a compact small town with a liberal reputation, would be a prime target for the criminal elements largely based in Medford and White City, 15 miles up the road. To prevent that fate, Sam knew that they would have to dust off the EMP that he and Maria had just drafted based on his novel and his research. Fortunately, the major, the University President, and the Police Chief, his poker-playing buddies, had all read his novel and were big fans.
Sam turned to Maria,
“We had better go and see the Police Chief. Afterward, you need to get to the hospital. All the medicines in the refrigerators will go bad within days. Call Joe in the History department in the morning. He is a sort of expert on early modern civilizations. He may have some ideas as to how to jury rig an ice box system to keep the essential medicines cold enough. And then let’s get your cousin over so we can figure out how to preserve the frozen foods in the restaurants. “
And they walked out the door into the changed new post-nuclear world.
The first thing that Sam and Maria noticed as they stepped outside into the post-EMP world after the blast was how quiet and dark it was. All the lights had blown out, all the vehicles had stalled, and a few scattered fires had started, but the snow was putting them out. Some people were out on the street and Sam and Maria told their neighbors what they suspected had happened.
George and Samantha lived next door. George was with the festival as an actor, his wife worked in the front office. They had been here for five seasons and had re-up for a six-season. The actors stayed one to three seasons then move on. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, like most professional theaters, rotated actors and tech staff every year to give fresh talent and fresh ideas. George was from England and his wife Samantha was from Barbados. They met working the cruise ship entertainment circuit which was also common in the theater world as those gigs paid well and gave well free room and board and cruising. What not to like thought Sam to himself.
“So, Sam, I know you’ve researched all this. What are you thinking happens next?”
“Well, come with me to meet Police Chief Chuck and Mayor Joe. If the Mayor is asleep, we will have to wake him up. Go to the theater. It might be difficult to perform in the dark! But what happens next is up to us. If we all pull together and drop everything else and concentrate on three core tasks, collecting food and setting up community kitchens, starting community gardens sprouts for now, hunting as well; and building a Fort around the town to keep out predators including humans, we might survive with most people alive as we are just small enough to be viable. Medford is already history although gangs might take over and enslave the population. Portland is too big to survive. SF Los Angeles. Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose, and San Diego are gone by now. According to the news just before the bombs fell those cities, and most major metro areas and military bases have been or will be nuked. The only ones near here are Portland and the Klamath Falls reserve air base. We might be okay as Oregon is just too insignificant a target compared to the target-rich California and Washington State.
The food will go bad in seven days. No new food will arrive, and the growing season is over, we won’t have fresh food except for sprouts and indoor lettuce until June. Looters will get most of the canned goods, but no one will cook without power unless they have a pre-1960 stove or wood stove. Gas stoves won’t work as the gas distribution systems and water systems also depend upon computer circuits which are all fried. There may run water for a while as the water systems may be okay but eventually, toilets will fail. I’d give that about six months sooner if we have a cold winter which we will due to nuclear winter.
In any urban area over 50,000 people will have 90 percent of the population starve to death, eaten by animals, including lions, tigers, and cheetahs, – they will escape soon from the wildlife parks, and zoos across the State, -cougars, wolves, coyotes, feral dogs, vultures, and eagles and bears. The dogs are going to go bad within a week and join up with coyotes and wolf packs. Cats are going to go feral but probably not attack humans. The animals are going to attack deer, cattle, and horses. Which means they are going off the same game that we need to hunt.
And cannibal gangs will soon form and prey upon survivors. Or people will die of falling out or die of disease or freeze to death. We can avoid that fate if we all pull together today. Join me in convincing the Mayor and police chief.”
“Sam, stop it. You are scaring me. Can’t be that bad.”
“George, it is going to be a lost worst up in Medford. By this time tomorrow armed gangs are going to take over the city, within a few days they will be coming out of the way. We had better be ready.”
“Sam seems to me that we can start by piling up old cars and buses and then building fencing and posts behind it.”
“George, I knew your past as a construction contractor would prove useful. The acting not so much. We must think that we are back in 1400 or perhaps 700 ads with the Fall of Rome. The dark ages have started.”
A crowd had formed about 20 people were milling around listening to Sam and George discuss the unfolding situation.
Just then there was a flash of blinding light to the East towards Klamath Falls where there was a reserve air base. Sam yelled at everyone inside my house now.
Everyone ran inside. Sam told everyone
“Okay. That was Klamath Falls being hit by a nuke. Fortunately, between here and there are high mountains so we might be okay. Hard to know. We need some of the scientists at the University to tell us. So, here’s the deal. George and I are going to get the mayor and police chief. We will bring them here for an emergency management committee meeting. Marisa will take volunteers to the hospital to get stretchers and ER supplies then divide up into teams. One team will go to the crash site north of town, one south of town, and another team will hit the freeway entrances, north, and south. Look for survivors. Take them to the armory which we will set up as an emergency shelter. Someone wakes up the management and opens it up and someone organizes emergency bedding supplies, water, and food. We may have injuries and may have refugees. For now, we won’t turn people away, but in a few days, that will change once we have the Fort set up.
George on the way to getting the mayor and police chief let’s sketch out how we will build the Fort where the barricades will go first and what we need to do to build it fast and ugly at first then over time make it a fortress surrounding the core downtown and the University districts. And someone goes to find Joe Turner the history buff. He will know what to do. We need his expertise.”
Joe had arrived. He was a big burly fellow, a college football player at CAL who had gone back to graduate school after his two years in the NFL did not pan out. But he had the funds to pay for graduate school. He studied at Bowling Green and was a classmate of Sam’s. His Ph.D. was on 17th-century technology in the colonial era. Sam and Joe had talked about EMP effects when Sam was writing his book. He had done his research and told Sam,
“Sam, I figured you could use me. So, it is the EMP we talked about?”
“Hacking first I think then EMP and nukes. Seems that Klamath has been hit by a nuke but probably no other nukes except for the Bay Area, Sacramento and Portland, Seattle, and Los Angeles. There should be massive forest fires starting but the snow and rain will put them out soon enough. More worried about Medford burning up. We also need the fire crew to put out the fires that have started. But the snow and rain should help prevent a massive fire. Joe come with me we must get the Police Chief and the Mayor to call a mandatory town hall meeting.”
Joe went on,
“Well Sam, folks. We are going to have to go through the town and pull together pre-1960 stoves, refrigerators, radios, TVs, and lighting fixtures. I may be able to get some solar power and wind power and hydropower up and running in a few weeks so once those are ready we can set up the pre-1950’s stoves and refrigerators. In the meantime, we can put food outside and medicine outside in bear and raccoon-proof containers that will have to be in the trees or on the rooftops. And we can set up some emergency ice boxes as well. That should last us until Spring time when we can restore power to the University and the downtown corridors. We have to re-wire everything and set up solar and wind power systems. Fortunately, if the solar panels were not installed they should work, they are low-tech. The computer gizmos won’t work but we might be able to do a workaround. The wind turbines may be a problem as they tend to have computer gizmos but some of the engineering chaps can figure that out. “
They soon divided up into emergency teams and went their separate ways. Sam was proud that his towns folks so far, were doing what he knew needed to be done. But Sam also knew that what he was going to propose the next day would be resisted by half the town folk who will naively feel that they just need to wait for the Federal or State government to organize recovery operations. Sam knew that they had about five days max to prepare for an invasion of armed bandits from Medford as the food ran out. If they weren’t ready it would be game over and Sam did not want to be a slave or killed by bandits or cannibals or wild animals. Or starve to death. Sam knew what had to be done.
Chuck the police chief saw Sam and welcomed him, George, and Joe Turner to the station.
The Police Chief, Chuck Conners, was a career law enforcement guy. He was in his late 40’s and well built, muscular guy. He had served as the police chief for five years. Before joining the Ashland police, he had been a policeman in SF. He had served five years in the military as an MP and had done rough service including interrogating prisoners. He was married to Lisa Marie and had two adult children. Jack was in the military and likely to make it for life. Maria was a struggling actress. His parents were elderly, and he worried about them a lot. Sam, George, and Joe Turner were great friends, sharing a passion for SF movies and books, and avid poker players. They played almost every Friday night at Sam’s house.
The mayor was on his way. Sam offered to host the emergency action team at his house and they all agreed. Joe Turner had been mayor for five years. He was a medium height medium build average looking white guy, the most remarkable thing about him was his remarkableness. He was planning on running for Congress when the fall hit and changed his plans. He and Sam had become fast friends when Sam first arrived.
When the mayor arrived, Sam told them what they had already done.
“Okay, let’s do this. Sam, George, and Joe, I am deputizing you right now as deputy sheriffs and you will have full authority under the law. We are going to find Tom Strange who is the armory manager. He lives a few blocks over. If I know Tom, he may already be at the armory and opening it up. He is a man of action and a good egg. Let’s go and find him. I will send a couple of my officers to the two crash sites and to the two freeway entrances to meet up with the volunteers and escort survivors to the armory. After that, we will go to your house. Joe, can you figure out how to make coffee and food for 30 people without power?”
“I sure can. Let’s do that at the armory. I can rig up a makeshift kitchen fire out back, but I need a few volunteers. How about I put a few of the refugees to work building a kitchen so we can have hot food by 9 am and coffee of course. Sam, can we swing by your house and get supplies first?”
“Sure. “
They walked back to his house, put together emergency food rations including coffee, and went to the armory which had a fully stocked kitchen as they hosted all sorts of events there including community pancake breakfasts etc. On the way, they collected more volunteers. Everyone turns to Sam as everyone in town knew of his book and his service on the EAP committee. Most thought that he was a bit eccentric, but everyone realized that between Joe and Sam, the town had a fighting chance of survival.
Tom was waiting for them and had opened the armory. There were about 25 people their volunteers setting up cots, blankets, and emergency food and water ratios. Joe spoke up,
“I need about six people to go out back with me and set up an emergency fire pit kitchen. We will start brewing up coffee and making eggs and pancakes. We have plenty of paper plates for now. Someone will have to wake up the Safeway manager and get them to donate more supplies. We expect the whole town to show up sooner or later. Fortunately, most of the tourists are gone for the season and some of the residents as well are out of town. So, we are down to about 20,000 people vs. 30,000 during the tourist season. We are going to have a town hall at noon and the EAP will start meeting as soon as we can get them coffee and breakfast. Later we will need to get those pre-50 stoves up and running once we get some power but that is not today’s problem. So, let’s go.”
Sam, George, Chuck, and Joe Brown the Mayor sat down and begin mapping out the details of the EAP following a written copy that the Major had printed out before the power failed.
“Sam, this is the worst-case scenario, isn’t it?”
“Yep. Joe. End of civilization as we know it.”
the Haunted House in Eagle Point
Sam Adams was a paranormal researcher for the Cosmos Institute in Berkeley, California. He had grown up in Eagle Point, Oregon, a small community just north of the town of Medford, twenty miles from the California border.
When he was growing up there stood an old mansion on the north end of town. The mansion was rumored to contain secret doorways to other worlds. The owner of the mansion was Eugene Small, a retired English professor who had taught at Southern Oregon University and worked as an advisor to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival before Alzheimer’s caused him to retire at age 60. He became a hermit held up in the house where he was rumored to conduct secret Satanic rituals involving animal sacrifices. He had a small stable containing horses, cattle, pigs, dogs, and cats.
When Sam first worked at the Cosmos Institute, he became interested in the rumored satanic rituals being conducted at the small old mansion which was down the street from where he had grown up. He called up his father one day and talked to him about the rumors surrounding the old mansion. His father told him that Eugene had not been seen in over a month and strange ghostly figures were walking about the property and urged Sam to come up and take a look as part of his job.
Sam told his boss about the strange cooccurrences she authorized him to return home to investigate it. When he returned home, he found that the mansion, the stable and Mr. Small had all mysteriously vanished in the night leaving behind an empty crater.
Sam reported the case as inconclusive and went back to the Institute.
He walked along the lonely coast picking up shells and thinking about life. He came upon an eagle feather on the beach and looked up and saw the eagle looking at him. He imagined that the eagle was blaming humanity for destroying the world. He screamed at the eagle “don’t blame me for the misdeeds of the human race. I am the last human alive so leave me alone.”
The eagle screeched and flew off looking for breakfast. Soon he came upon a gruesome sight. He saw a fellow survivor who had somehow survived the zombie flu-fighting for his life against a pack of feral dogs. Sam chased the dogs off throwing rocks at them. The man thanked him and joined him for breakfast in a new abandoned cabin. They thought about the end of humanity, and the revenge of the natural world. The wildlife was resurgent everywhere. The few humans left huddled together trying to survive the collapse of the old-world order. They went back out to the world walking the beach. They saw a pride of lions chasing down a deer. They shot at the lions who ran off snarling into the woods. They came to another abandoned cabin and prepared to spend the night. They heard a commotion and saw another survivor walking down the beach towards them. They joined her and had dinner together. That was the moment that Sam Adams realized that although the world might have ended, he was still somehow alive.
One November afternoon, at about 5 pm, Sam Adams, a white man in his late
The 60s was doing his usual daily walk in Lithia Park in Ashland, Oregon. Sam had retired to
Oregon after serving in the U.S. government as a diplomat for many years. He had grown up in
Berkeley but had visited Ashland over the years. He and his wife, Linda, were big fans of the
Shakespeare festival. Linda was worried that Sam was showing signs of Alzheimer’s but Sam
was not worried. He told Linda every day he would always remember how to find his way back
to her. They had been married for 45 years. They met on a bus in South Korea when Sam was
teaching there for the US Army before joining the State Department. Linda Lee was from Korea. It
was love at first sight and they got married two months after meeting.
Since retirement they were inseparable, but Sam often went for his walks alone. He would walk deep into Lithia Park following Lithia Creek upriver until he came upon his favorite bench and sat there a while. The bench was a simple wooden bench, surrounded by Japanese Maple trees which were in the full-color display that afternoon. It was a pleasant spot and Sam had been going there every day for almost two years.
Soon, as usual, he was lost in thought, dreaming of his past life, thinking of his past loves, thinking dark thoughts preparing mentally for the coming end times of his life. Sam had a premonition that death was stalking him and that his time was near. He never told his wife that because he did not want to worry her. But he had insisted that they had gotten their estate plan completed, and he felt ready to go any day now.
Sam had plenty to think about – he and Linda had had an eventful life. He had lived in over ten countries around the world and traveled to 50 states. After retiring he became a blogger and worked on that off and on. But lately, he felt that time was slipping away from him. As he sat on the bench, meditating on his past life, something strange occurred. The bench woke up and spoke to Sam.
“Sam, how are you doing? An old friend of mine. Delighted that I can speak with you.”
Sam looked around and could not find out where the voice was coming from but realized that the chair had spoken to him. Sam laughed and said,
“Well, chair if you can speak tell me what you know.”
The chair spoke of Sam’s life and of the life of others in the community that Sam knew. The chair said he knew everything that occurred in the lives of the people that sat on his bench. And the trees knew too as did the cosmic cat and even the squirrels knew. But people, well they just did not know how to listen to nature and the world around them. In a way, it was too bad because the bench had so much wisdom to implant.
Sam and the bench began talking. Soon a black cat appeared. He said that he was a cosmic cat as most cats are. Cats, he explained, are special creatures – not originally from this planet and descended from great warriors that crashed and landed on Earth millions of years ago.
Humans as alien freaks or as annoying pests so often dismissed cats. But cats were man’s best friend. And all cats had a sixth sense about death. They knew when it was time to go. The cat said the Grimm Reaper was coming to Sam’s place that night and that Sam would be gone the next day.
Sam said,
“Cosmic cat, do you know what will happen to me? Will I go to Heaven or Hell? Is there a heaven or a hell?”
“Sam, that is beyond my pay grade as they say. I do know that life continues after death but heaven and hell I don’t know much about. It is different for us cats. We come back to life again, and can’t seem to escape our karmic fate. Humans will then move on to the next level of existence and we will never see them again. Oh, here is the Grimm Reaper himself.”
The Grimm Reaper walks up to Sam and introduces himself. The Grimm Reaper was a handsome man dressed in all-black clothes, with a black hat and tie on. He said that he is just part of an army of Grimm Reapers and was breaking protocol to talk with Sam. He was so impressed that Sam had developed the ability to talk to animals, trees, and the cosmic bench that he had a deal to make.
Sam intrigued said,
“what’s the deal?”
I will give you one more month to live but you let me into your life like in the moviI always Black. Always wanted to try that. At the end of your life, God may grant me my wish to be a mortal for a few years. Here’s how it is going to play out. I will introduce myself as your long-lost son from an affair long ago. You will welcome me into your life and Linda will eventually accept me as your son as well.
Every day we will come back here and continue our conversation. At the end of the month, you will go on to the other world and I will stay behind as your son and stay with your wife to comfort her until it is her time to go and then you will be reunited. For you are special true soul mates and will be together forever. Do we have a deal?”
Sam said, “Sure.”
The bench smiled, the cat was happy, and the squirrel came down from the tree after getting assurances that the Cat would not eat him that day and congratulated him as well. The Maple Tree finally spoke and blessed the deal as well.
As night deepened, he turned slowly towards home, accompanied by the Grimm Reaper who decided to call himself Joe Black, and the cosmic cat.
He said goodnight to the cosmic bench in the park, acknowledging that he would be back
same time, the same station, day after day until Joe released him from this mortal world.
On Travel next Three Months taking a break from weekly blogging
I am off to the States for three months starting tomorrow and will not be updating my blog as frequently, but will still try to blog every week. First stop will be DC where I hope to get up to the New Goerges NP the newest NP which was recently rated as the best NP by a travel magazine.
then it is off to Southern Oregon for a month including a trip to Crater Lake, Redwoods, Lassen Volcano NP, then driving to the Bay Area along highway one then a week there, a week driving to LA and checking it and San Diego, then the Grand Canyon and Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia NP and perhaps Zion and Bryce Canyon NP’s as well. We will be traveling with my Brother-in law, his wife and their teenage daughter. It will her first trip to the U.S.
I will be back in Korea in September and resume regular blogging then.
Travels to Korean National Park
Travels to the Redwoods
Travels to the Redwoods
